Command in the hands of Silent Killer

Nov 21:   The first match of the much awaited long Test series against Pakistan after 2006 is going to start at Ferozeshah Kotla ground in Delhi on Thursday. After clinching one-day series against Pakistan by 3-0, India is now ready to keep an eye on clean sweeping the Test series. After dejecting the captaincy by Rahul Dravid, selectors relied on Tendulkar, who also rejected to lead. Keeping in view that not to give immense pressure on young ODI captain Dhoni; Kumble became the ultimate choice as commander of the veteran team composite of both experienced as well as young soldiers.

Kumble, who has also earlier been ready to lead Team India but remained unadhered by the selectors; eventually got his dream job, only when some of the senior players rejected the captaincy, next to him. Although the most experienced player has been the vice-captain of India for many years but unfortunately not got a chance till date.

India is hoping well for Kumble - by profession a engineer, next to cricketer - to apply his technical bent of mind on the cricket ground as well and made whirl the opponent in his googly. Also there is a little bit of doubt among the cricket fans that by nature a shy and calm and remained silent over the ground: would Kumble be able to show the same magic as a captain as has been showing with the ball?

India has always been known for the production of great spinners starting of with the spin quarters of Bedi, Prasanna, Chandrashekhar, Venkatraghvan to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

Anil Kumble, who was born on Oct 17, 1970 in Bangalore (Karnataka); made his debut in Indian Cricket ODI team against Sri Lanka at Sharjah in 1990. He started his Test debut in the same year against England but establishes himself as a quality spinner taking 8 wickets in 2 nd Test. Soon he recognised as one of the most reliable member of the 11 th squad. Now having taken over 500 Test wickets and 300 ODI wickets, he is not required to expound on his skill as a cricketer. He can’t be estimated lower as shown by his taking of first 50 wickets in just 10 Test matches making him the only Indian bowler to do so. He went on to become second fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 Test wickets in 21 Test matches after Erapalli Prasanna. On Nov 27, 1993 - he took 6 wickets for mere 12 runs in an ODI against West Indies, at Calcutta, a new record for Best bowling by any Indian player.

But, these records were not enough for the veteran bowler. And, the day came when he kept behind all cricketers globally by making a new record of taking all 10 wickets against Pakistan in the second Test Innings after Jim Laker of England, in 1999. Kumble has also taken 10 wickets in a match 8 times in his career so far.

He earned the moniker “jumbo”, because of his deliveries, for a spinner; travel at such a high speed much to be like a jumbo jet.

In 2005, he was awarded Padam Shree, a civilian award from Government of India.

Captaining the National Test Team may be new for Kumble, but captaincy rests easy on his shoulders. “Whatever the job demands, I’ll do. As a captain, it is for me to be the voice of the team. I’ll not try and shy away from my responsibilities,” says Kumble. These words sure come from a man who takes every challenge as an opportunity to excel.