If cricket is a game of glorious uncertainties, selectorial proof of it comes from the appointment of Anil Kumble as India’s next Test captain. All Thursday, the TV channels were “breaking news” of Mahendra Singh Dhoni as if an announcement was just a formality. By day’s end, a googly—and India’s most successful bowler was being called upon to do what neither of his great contemporaries, Shane Warne or Muttiah Muralitharan, had been: to lead the country.
For the son of Bangalore—a son-in-law of Mysore!—the captaincy is high honour indeed towards the fag end of a long and fine career. Not too many bowlers, and even fewer spinners, have donned the skipper’s hat in recent history for fear that they might overbowl or underbowl themselves. But Kumble is a strong character with a heart of steel and an unflinching will to win. Will Kumble be a good captain? Will a bowler be able to lead from the front? Will the pressures of leading the side affect his own performance? Will Kumble be able to stave off the pressures that consumed State-mate Rahul Dravid and deterred the mighty Sachin Tendulkar?
Kaadhu nodoNa Siva..
The selectors have lived upto their name by choosing Kumble only for the Pakistan series. By not appointing him for the Australia series straightaway, they have put a senior man who has strained every sinew for his country for over a decade and a half on trial. Kumble being Kumble has taken it manfully on the chin and padded up. Good luck.
After venkat raghavan ANIL is the only spinner to get the captaincy of INDIA., i just hope that he will not go venkats way., as a cricketer he is fantastic and can read the game well and has got the support of the seniors (might be for their own existence in the team)., nodona, IDU KARNATAKAKKE RAJYOTSVADA KODUGE.,
lets wish him all the best and i think he will retire after the aussies series, if he continues to lead the team there.,
There is no doubt that Anil Kumble will do well as a Captain. He has fought many battles. Doubting Thomases will always be there. This is true of every field in India. Even before a child is born people start thinking whether it will survive or not. Take the case of Karnataka politics. A former CM airs his views on a TV channel telling that the new government will not survive for long. WIshing Kumble all the success in his new role. Experience, maturity, patience – if you consider these are required for a captain no doubt Kumble possesses.
He scored his first century in Test in England yet he failed to exploit the fourth innings wicket in the last test ! So did Zahir Khan who let his captain down by compounding it with the statement that he was ready to bowl if the skipper had enforced follow on ! So on present form it it difficult to take him as an automatic choice in the eleven itself with Houdini man Karthik breathing down for a place in the eleven. It is difficult to understand the way how the pack of joker’s mind works ! Albeit this aberration, it is no denying the man deserves the job for his great service to the Indian Cricket alone. Hope the lady luck is with him in this greatest test of his career. Good luck to him.
I expected the selectors to pick Ganguly but am happy to be proved wrong. It is truly deserved for everything he has done.
I think none of the other seniors wanted to run the risk of losing the current series and be tainted, so the selectors gave the job to this great gentleman cricketer. I wish he can cap this appointment with a memorable showing in the series.
For a captain of India, Kumble has more personality than Dravid, is more affable and could do much better as a tactician than Dravid. He’s also had a clearer perspective on the big picture from outside the team, observing the game. There is little or no pressure on him now that he is in the evening of his career. I hope all these reasons will compliment his natural temperament as a fighter to be just the level-headed man for a crisis, India can turn to. Good luck Anil.
He is a great choice. The best choice in fact. If there is any justice in this world Kumble should become the first Indian captain to lead a victorious Indian side in Australia.