There is nothing like young children quizzing a celebrity. Innocent, harmless questions asked without any baggage, without any preconceived notions or expectations.
Today, it is was the turn of Anil Radhakrishna Kumble. The son-in-law of Mysore took questions from children attending the very innovative Chinnara Mela summer camp held by Rangayana each year, and as usual Kumble showed he was a thorough professional.
"Before coming here, I asked Javagal Srinath about the probable questions you may pose," Kumble told his young audience. "Srinath said that I may have to face quick ones from Shoaib Akthar and tricky ones from Shane Warne!"
The question and answer session, as reported by Star of Mysore, went thus:
Nikhil S. Murthy: Why you don't sport a moustache?
Kumble: I want to look young as I grow old so that I can play for some more time.
M.R. Rakshit: Do you want to make your son also a cricketer?
Kumble: He is just two years old. He can hold a bat and play for fun. Education is first; other talents will follow.
M.R. Rakshit: You never seem to get angry.
Kumble: My team mates also say so. Anger is no good but controlled aggression is.
N.S. Veekruth: What are the preliminary steps to becoming a good cricketer?
Kumble: First you should enjoy the game. Proficiency comes with effort. Sports should get importance in schools. Basic passion for sports is needed among children.
Akshay and Ajay: Who is the toughest batsman you have faced so far?
Kumble: I am lucky I am in India. All the toughies are in India be it Dravid, Sehwag or Ganguly. (The children shouted the name of Dhoni and Kumble accepted it with a smile).
Bharat: Do you and Dravid speak in Kannada?
Kumble: Of course. We have developed a few code words in Kannada and all the teammates are familiar with them. They come handy during crucial moments in matches.
Harshit and Amruta: What are the most memorable moments of your career?
Kumble: When I made my debut for India against England in 1990 and when I took all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in New Delhi.
Sparsha Pai: A batsman hits a ball. It breaks into two halves and one piece is caught by a fielder. Will the batsman be declared out?
Kumble: Interesting question. I think he will be declared out. Anyway, the third umpire is there.
Good Questions by the Kids and equaly handled by Kumble.
Thanks for Publishing
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Yep, nice piece…very interesting that Rangayana has these unique opportunities for children. And, Kumble, as usual is a maestro.
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Bad answer by Kumble for the last question. The ball is declared dead as soon as it breaks apart. Surprised and disappointed that he didn’t know this rule. This is based on Law 5 concerning the weight/dimensions of the ball. Since the ball does not retain those dimensions/weight, it is declared dead per law 23 as soon as it breaks apart.
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