The Indian Premier League (IPL) may be a soft target for its critics but for former Indian captain Anil Kumble, it is a global brand which has done enormously well in the nine years of its existence.
The former leg-spinner said he was proud to be associated with IPL. Kumble, who is in Thiruvananthapuram to visit the Tenvic Academy, said he is not part of this year’s IPL because he wanted to be with his family.
“I have been associated with IPL for the last eight years. This summer I wanted to spend sometime with my family and I am enjoying it. I would be back for the IPL the next season,” he said.
Kumble said spin bowling in India is healthy and there is lot of talent in the country as was evident from the performance of some spinners in the IPL. However, he said the game’s shortest version is not the right platform to judge a spinner as a Test match prospect.
“For the last few seasons Ashwin has been bowling well. Amit Mishra is also doing well and Harbhajan Singh is still playing. There is Jadeja and some promising spinners who are doing well in IPL. I feel spin bowling in India is healthy,” said Kumble, “I always felt spinners have a big role in T20. It is about bowling a good line and trying variations.”
On his new venture in Thiruvananthapuram, Kumble said he was happy with the response, as about 140 kids have joined the academy. “The infrastructure is fantastic and world class. We believe in holistic development of the kids. I always have thought that kids should first enjoy the game. We have started off with cricket and football and in due course of time more games will be added when other facilities like swimming pool and gymnasium start functioning,” he said.
PTI adds:
“IPL is a global brand which brings in lot of revenue to the country. It should not be shifted,” he told reporters during a visit to the Greenfield Stadium at Karyavattom here.
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