The Last Scalp....

Indian Cricket c & b Kumble 619 (132 matches)

With the niggle in shoulder in first test of the ongoing Border-Gavasker Trophy and 11 stitches on an injured finger in the third, it became eminent, what all cricketing fans had tried to ignore. The gentleman of the game walks away after 19 yrs with achievements and laurels that generations of coming fans will boost about. Indian wins on turning home wickets wouldnt have been a guarded fortress for more than a decade without this commanding general on whom every Indian fondly relied on. During his peak he lead the bowling attack from the front making each of his 35 5 wicket hauls(in India & Abroad) as precious as any of Tendulkar's or Gavasker's centuries. Despite the Legends of Tendulkar, Dravid, Ganguly & Laxman, it is nothing but appropriate to honour him the Biggest Match Winner from India. He was doubted in the stepping stones of his career, but only took the spinning fear of Prasanna, Bedi & Chandra from India forward. He has carved a niche amongst generations of legendary bowlers by his 10 wickets in an innings hawl at Kotla a decade back, something that every Indian feel proud about even today and will for decades to come.

Kumble will be remembered by the batsmen of 2 generations as the smiling assassin who could bowl the 35th or 40th over of the day with same precision and aggression as his first ball. Little has anybody seen him drifting down the leg side or putting it short. For analysts, he might have been a gentle medium pacer who turned a couple of leg breaks but his subtle variations, accuracy and bounce of the wicket have been dreaded by some of the greatest batsmen ever. A true Legend, gentleman, rolemodel and an innocent child at heart whos held on to an old-old faded Indian cap wanting to play nothing but Cricket !!! I applaud the Greatest ever Indian Bowler and the...'Jumbo'...of the game... :)