Farewell Jumbo

Today definitely one of India's greatest bowlers decided to call it a day. Anil Kumble retired from active Test cricket.

If someone describes this as an "end of an era" - He/She will not be wrong. Kumble has been one of the greatest bowlers India have produced: Prasanna, Bedi, Chandrashekhar, Venkataraghavan, Kapil Dev, Javagal Srinath and now Kumble.

Kumble belongs to that category sportsmen with whom the entire game - the very principles of sport rise to a different level. People like Kumble make you believe that it is possible to be competitive without being nasty, it is possible to be aggressive without becoming a monster. It is possible to compete to your fullest. Gracious in victory and Dignified in defeat.

If there are some moments to be remembered in sport - I guess it would be these (not in any particular order):

1. The Indian team winning the world cup in 1983 - Kapil showing off the cup to the crowds with his trademark grin.
2. Boris Becker touching the Wimbledon cup after Edberg won - Becker would come back next year to claim his rightful hierloom
3. 15-Love; 30-Love;40-Love-Game - Ivanisevic vs. Agassi
4. Jonty Rhodes' run out of Inzamam
5. Shoaib ripping out Dravid and Sachin in 2 continous balls - Prasad knocking off Sohail's Off stump in Bangalore [As far as B'lore was concerned - India won the World Cup then and there]
6. Wasim Akram's double whammy in the 1992 semifinal against England - 2 wickets of two deliveries - One outswinger and one in swinger.
7. Michael Chang's defying gravity on that return at the net in the US Open
8. Kapil's 431 - Dravid's exultant shout and leap after the Kolkata test against Australia
9. Ivanisevic winning the Wimbledon in 2001 on a wildcard.

and 10 - Definitely those 10 wickets in Kotla against Pakistan in 1999.

For someone who has made that kind of an impact in a sport - Someone who turned his handicap to his advantage - He is a role model for all of us. A perfect example of "Never say die" spirit.

Thank you Anil and fare well.