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Journalism of Courage
The delay because of the damp pitch early this morning meant that Anil Kumble’s wait to reach 435 wickets would have to stretch further. Thanfully though, Sourav Ganguly finally won a toss and it was more or less certain that Kumble would get a good enough shot at ‘435’ on the first day itself.
Leading the side on to the field — a widely appreciated gesture by the Indian team management — Kumble reached the pitch that would, later in the day, become part of Indian history. Unfortunately though, Ganguly couldn’t hand the ball over to Kumble till quite late in the day, as the moisture in the wicket meant Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan would have to do most of the wicket-taking.
But when it finally happened, Kumble got not one, but two wickets. And it was done! Kapil Dev’s mark of 434 had been breached. Kumble was India No 1.
Kumble had got to the mark 41 Tests before his ‘‘Kapil paaji’’, but he had in the process bowled some 158 more overs. Is that why there was just the little jump and clap to celebrate the milestone? Or was it just quintessential Kumble? ‘‘I am not an emotional man. I am really happy though,’’ said Kumble afterwards. ‘‘There was relief to get to the mark. But now everybody wants me to push towards 500,’’ Kumble added.
Despite the lack of apparent jubilation though, Kumble remembered to show the ball as promised to his favourite photographer seated near the media centre immediately after breaking the record.
‘‘The whole team was there to celebrate with me. What more could I ask for? I had my family in Kolkata (when he equalled Kapil’s mark), so it’s been very special,’’ Kumble said.
And then, after Bangladesh were bowled out, Kumble got Ganguly to ask for the ball from the umpires, who obliged. And now the ball will find pride of place at the Kumbles’ residence in Bangalore. Which, of course, was where he booked his first call to after reaching the dressing room.
And then, it was the beginning of a series of interviews and congratulatory messages from those present at the ground (including Bangla coach Dav Whatmore) and those who could send in an SMS.
In this, his 15th year of international cricket, Kumble has been at his most lethal, picking up the most wickets — 66 from 11 Tests — so far. We asked him what keeps him going? How is his form on a constant upswing? ‘‘I don’t know about that,’’ Kumble said with characteristic modesty. ‘‘But what I do know is that I will keep going.’’
