Kumble146;s pressure principle

Ask Anil Kumble what gets a batsman out and his reply will be swift and sure: Pressure. Today, he put his precept into practice to bring Sri...

Ask Anil Kumble what gets a batsman out and his reply will be swift and sure: Pressure. Today, he put his precept into practice to bring Sri Lanka down from their commanding position.

About an hour8217;s play remained on the second day and the mood at Kotla was in total contrast to the final session on Day One. Sri Lanka were 175/2 with Mahela Jayawardene and Marvan Atapattu having already compiled a partnership of 113 runs. India8217;s target of 290 seemed an easily surmountable target.

Then came India8217;s window of opportunity as Jayawardene was out lbw sweeping Kumble. The giant screen said it was Kumble8217;s 50th Lankan Test wicket but the leggie was busy working on the ball, getting ready to bowl to the next batsman Samaraweera.

Sachin Tendulkar, fielding at mid-on, drew Kumble8217;s attention to the achievement being displayed larger than life but the leggie just laughed it off and went about the job at hand.

And how! His next 36 balls 8212; six overs 8212; included 34 dot balls and three wickets. By the time he8217;d finished, India8217;s fortunes had taken a turn 8212; a far bigger turn, indeed, than Kumble could manage on this batting friendly track.

What it required of Kumble was patience, and drawing on the experience of all previous 98 Tests, especially when Jayawardene and Atapattu were in flow. For 15 overs Kumble went wicketless, before he had Jayawardene with a straighter ball.

Except for Samaraweera the other three wickets that Kumble got were from balls that didn8217;t actually turn much. Samaraweera8217;s dismissal was a visual delight 8212; ball pitched on middle and leg, hitting the off stump and leaving the batsman foxed 8212; but his wicket of Atapattu on the final ball of the day was the most significant.

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India were desperate for a wicket. After a detailed discussion with Dravid, Kumble asked Gautam Gambhir to move square leg to forward short-leg. A fastish ball jumped, took the inside edge, hit the pad and popped up to Gambhir. The booby trap had worked and it was tough to spot who between Kumble and Dravid had the bigger smile.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More