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500 Test wickets a realistic
target: Kumble
NEW DELHI : Yesterday’s
engineering graduate is today’s Indian Bowler No 1 and a
Padma Shri awardee. With the series against Pakistan set
to roll, Anil Kumble hits the pitch of his life less
ordinary.
 Study
hard, play harder:
I grew up in a middle-class family that included my
parents, grandparents and brother. My grandfather was
the headmaster of a school and dad never stopped me from
playing cricket as long as I did well in studies. I
played cricket on the streets and practised after
school.
Exams Vs Cricket:
I made my debut for India when I was in the second year
of my engineering course. When the call came, I had to
miss my exams. Since I needed to clear six out of 13
papers to move up to the third year, I appeared for two
theory papers and four practicals. So, I was left with
seven plus 12 papers in my third year! Luckily, there
were no matches that year. But I never burnt the
midnight oil — I woke up at 5 am, studied through the
day, and went to bed by 11 pm.
No 'real' college years:
Occupied with cricket, I missed hanging out with
friends. Whenever I did attend college, I had to study.
I recognise very few of my classmates and am close to
only a handful of them. Sometimes, when my classmates
come up to me and say we studied together, I go blank!
Baptism by fire:
When I made my international debut, I was very raw,
being just 19 and having played only five first-class
games. Things weren’t easy on my first trip to England.
I knew from Day one that my job was to get wickets but
it was only after five years that I felt I could play
for India for a long time.
Target 500:
I've been an international cricketer for 15 years. With
56 wickets left to reach 500, and a few Test matches
coming up this year, 500 Test wickets is a realistic
target. I take things as they come. In any sport, it’s
important to raise the bar and set new targets. Of
course, in a team game, you just keep playing and
records keep coming your way.
Down and almost out:
As a sportsman, you keep pushing yourself even when you
are injured and perform by taking painkillers. Perhaps,
I took things too far. I developed shoulder pain during
the tour of Sharjah in October 2000. I bowled with pain
for four years before undergoing surgery. It was a
frustrating time during which I garnered support from my
wife and family. Post-surgery, it took me six weeks to
lift my arm. I even thought I wouldn’t be able to bowl
again. I knew the conditions there would be tough, but I
declared myself fit for the tour of outh Africa. I need
to thank physio Andrew Leipus, yoga guru Omkar and
physio Ramakanth in Bangalore for my recovery.
The pleasure of fame:
In Bangalore, there is an area called the Anil Kumble
Circle. It's a great honour to be recognised by people
who have seen me grow up. This shows how much people
like cricket. Of course, it's a tough job living up to
the expectations of people.
It doesn't ad up:
Cricket is marketed well. It’s a good sport for TV as
ads can be telecast every four minutes. I've never made
a conscious effort to cut down on ads. Maybe ad guys
need to be asked why they haven’t done too many ads with
me.
My kind of aggro:
Each person has a different way of showing aggression.
If I'm not known to be aggressive, it's because I
convert my aggression into positive thoughts to get
wickets. I was more aggressive about 10 years ago, but
I've mellowed down. Am I an introvert? How would you
define an extrovert? If it means going to a party or
sporting blond hair, then I'm not an extrovert.
To Chetna, with love:
I turn to my wife Chetna for support. During my early
years, my brother was the source of support. Even now,
we keep talking to each other. Playing the game also
means staying away from family. For Chetna, it's tough
to run the family when her husband is away — but she
does. She is a spiritual person and that has influenced
me too. |
