Kumble announces ODI retirement

ANTIGUA, March 28: Master leg-spinner Anil Kumble is all set to swing his Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) office-bearers in action to arrange for a formal announcement on his retirement from One-day cricket in the next few days.

Before he goes public with his decision, Kumble, the ever-courteous and morally upright cricketer, took the trouble of taking his colleagues in confidence in Port of Spain before the team left for home on Tuesday.

Kumble, the 36-year-old cricketer, arguably India’s best bowler and certainly the most potent match-winner, first took his senior mates into confidence before sharing the news with the rest of the Indian squad in Trinidad.

Kumble called upon his captain and long-time Karnataka mate Rahul Dravid, vice-captain Sachin Tendulkar and coach Greg Chappell before sharing the news with his other teammates.

Unlike the seniors who wished him well and empathised with his decision, the rest of the teammates were left rather numb after hearing of his decision to retire. They had seen it coming but when the news arrived, it left them shell-shocked.

Kumble, during his long career of 113 Tests and 271 One-Day Internationals, was the architect of many Indian triumphs in both formats of the game. His record of 547 wickets in Tests and 337 scalps in One-dayers is a testimony to his longevity and perseverance. His frustrations, in the last few seasons, lay in the fact that he was trying to be a part of the One-day squad that would have performed well in the World Cup.

Even though Kumble has been a peerless match-winner for India, he has struggled to command a regular place in India’s One-day side. More often than not, Harbhajan Singh had been preferred instead of him. Kumble made only a handful of One-day appearances in the last couple of years.

He played a couple of games in the last World Cup in South Africa in 2003, and then one match in the present edition of the competition. Sadly, Kumble’s wish of being a part of the One-day team that performs well in the World Cup is now destined to remain unfulfilled.

In the gathering, Kumble made a formal speech thanking everyone for their cooperation and support over the years. He did become emotional as he made the announcement but still kept his feelings in check.

“He had the presence of mind to thank all the fielders and wicketkeepers who helped him with his enormous success on the field. Jokingly, he even expressed his gratitude to the players who had joined him in those loud appeals,” said a member of the team.

Most members of the team were thankful that Kumble did not declare his retirement from Test cricket. India has a cramped schedule ahead and the team feels that Kumble’s experience would be of enormous help in the tours to England and Australia, which will happen later this year.