| Many eyes witnessing the fifth and final day of the | | | | his last few overs in international arena. |
| third Test between India and Australia at Feroz Shah | | | | He was as accurate as ever, extracting uneven |
| Kotla Ground, Delhi, had to shed tears when Anil | | | | bounce and keeping the batsmen guessing. No |
| Kumble came out to lead the home side for the last | | | | wonder he didn't pick up any wicket in that brief spell |
| time in his career. | | | | despite beating the bat on a few occasions. The |
| The news about the retirement of Kumble was | | | | Indian cricket will certainly miss Kumble. |
| broken only when India had inched closer to safety. | | | | He was one of the toughest characters around. He |
| And from the moment the news was confirmed all | | | | didn't turn the ball as much as the legendary Shane |
| eyes and cameras were focused on the champion | | | | Warne or Mutiah Muralitharan but he was no less |
| leg-spinner who had done his country proud with his | | | | effective. He was a fierce competitor whose |
| exploits on and off the field for the past 18 years. | | | | never-say-die approach helped considerably in lifting |
| With the emergence of outstanding young | | | | the morale of the team whenever it was down. |
| leg-spinners like Piyush Chawla and Amit Mishra it was | | | | One criticism on Kumble has been his performance |
| being speculated that the master would be | | | | rather the lack of it in overseas matches. It's unfair |
| considering calling it a day sooner or later. But nobody | | | | to blame him for the inconsistency of the Indians |
| had expected the decision to arrive during the course | | | | abroad. He certainly made the most of the |
| of a Test match. | | | | favourable conditions on home pitches but he was |
| It didn't look a hasty decision, however. Kumble, in | | | | hardly ever found wanting anywhere. |
| fact, has made a wise move in the larger interest of | | | | Kumble, like any other spin bowler, became more |
| Indian cricket. With his left hand stitched around | | | | lethal when attacking. He obviously didn't get the |
| there was hardly any chance left for him to regain | | | | opportunity of testing the batsmen when the Indians |
| fitness before the start of the fourth and final Test | | | | didn't have enough runs in the bank. He did prove less |
| in Nagpur in just a few days time. | | | | effective in games where India had to adopt |
| His decision to quit makes life easier for the team | | | | defensive approach but he was one weapon trusted |
| management who can still stick to the combination of | | | | the most by his captains. |
| two fast bowlers and as many specialist spinners | | | | Kumble looked a gutsy captain but he refrained from |
| with Harbhajan Singh looking fit to play again. | | | | taking undue risks. He handled the team very well on |
| But no praise could be too high for Kumble, whose | | | | that demanding tour of Australia last season. He has |
| record as the highest wicket-taker for India in Test | | | | left the scene on a high note with India leading 1-0 in |
| matches should remain intact for the next many | | | | the home series and looking confident for regaining |
| years. It was an emotional moment to see him bowl | | | | the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. |