"400 is a realistic ambition"

Published : Jan 05, 2002 00:00 IST

S.DINAKAR

THE flight of the 'Jumbo', conquering new heights, has indeed been remarkable. For leg-spinner Anil Kumble, the first Indian spinner with 300 Test scalps, the eventful journey, from the lanes of Bangalore to the hallowed grounds of the world, and then to glory in Test cricket, has been an incredible one. The Sportstar caught up with this unassuming cricketer in Bangalore, his hometown, soon after the final Test against England.

Becoming the first Indian spinner to reach 300 Test wickets is a significant feat.

Feels really good. It came at an important time for me too, after I was out with the shoulder injury for nearly a year. It has given a thrust to my career. I want to thank all my team-mates. Even when I was out with an injury, they never made me feel I was out of the side. They have been there for me.

Were you worried when the all-important wicket just failed to happen? What went through your mind?

I knew it was a question of just one wicket. It's not like my ten-wicket innings haul when I 'had' to take the last wicket, because I would probably never get another chance to do that. Here, I knew 300 would arrive, if not in this Test, the next one.

Looking back, had you not scalped the last England batsman (Hoggard), you wouldn't have been able to achieve the feat in Bangalore, considering India never bowled again in the match.

I was destined to get it here in Bangalore, before my family and friends. That's how it goes. There were a couple of close calls earlier when I could have got my 300th wicket. I bowled straight, hit him on the pads. The moment finally came. It's always better to strike early. Whenever I have done that, I've ended up taking a lot more wickets.

Where does Anil Kumble go from here?

I am still learning, still developing, still trying to evolve. It's a never-ending process. It obviously helps when you have more variety.

Have you set your sights on 400 Test scalps now? Is it a realistic dream?

I have a lot more left in me. I am now fitter than I ever was. Oh, yes, Wicket No. 400 is a realistic ambition.

The only two contemporary spinners ahead of you are Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. You get along well with both of them.

In fact, Murali called me up from Sri Lanka. He said, "Congratulations. Happy to see you at 300. Keep going." He himself is just 24 short of 400 Test wickets, and my reply was, "I will have to ring you up very soon to congratulate you for 400!" These days you have to count only in '10s and 12s' for him in a Test! He's astonishing!

And Warne is a classical leg-spinner. We get along well, exchange ideas whenever we meet. I just love to see him bowl. I watched him on television in Australia's recent Test against South Africa and he was brilliant. He's come back well from an injury too. Right now, I think he is at his best.

Mentally, how difficult was it recovering from the shoulder injury?

It was very difficult and there were times when I was a little concerned. But I managed to stay clear of negative thoughts. I want to thank a lot of people who helped me in my comeback. Dr. Ferguson, who treated me in South Africa, Debbie, the physio there, Andrew Leipus, our physio, Ramakant, the physio of the Karnataka team, Dr. Omkar, the yoga expert, Dr. Khinkey, the ortho, Gajadev, the coach at the gym I go to, and above all, my family, my wife, and my daughter. Their support and help have been invaluable.

And I remember the support that came from the people as well. When I was away, there were so many who asked me, 'When are you coming back? We want to watch you and Harbhajan bowl together.' Those words kept me going.

And how is it bowling in tandem with Harbhajan, in whose progress you too have played a part?

It's nice when you have somebody supporting you at the other end. Restricting the batsmen and creating the pressure. I believe that if things are kept tight from both ends, the wickets would come. He's on the look-out for wickets as well. If I get three, he gets two. If I get five, he gets four.

Is there any particular piece of advice you wish to remember in your moment of triumph?

There has been plenty of that over the years, with a lot of people wanting me to bowl like an orthodox leg-spinner. It was B.S. Chandrasekar who told me: 'Don't change your style. Your style makes you what you are.' These words have stayed with me.

He was a match-winning unorthodox leggie as well and he has been there for you at crucial stages of your career.

He's been a source of great inspiration. When I was very young, I actually believed that the deliveries from him pitched once and then spun out, and then pitched again and spun in (laughs). We didn't know much about the game then and there was no shortage of tales about his bowling exploits. We believed he could do magic. Which he could do of course, but by pitching the ball once and not twice as they told us as little kids! Yes, he was my idol as I grew up, and having that man as a coach when I just 14 was an incredible experience. Later he became a selector. I cannot forget the help from G. R. Viswanath also.

Making it to the Karnataka team was the start of the journey, wasn't it?

Yes, the fact that I could represent my State side at just 18 made a huge difference. I want to thank all the people who made it possible for me to play for Karnataka so early, who believed that I had the ability. You have to get the start at the right time. I remember the game well. We were playing Hyderabad in '89, and Roger Binny was the captain.

Someone who was there with you on your Ranji debut was also around when you got to 300 Test wickets.

Yes, both Srinath and myself made our debut in that match. He got a hat-trick, in fact he came close to achieving the feat twice, and I got a King Pair (laughs). Out first ball in both innings!

We have been together for so many years now. I first met 'Sri' when we were picked for the State 'B' side. Seeing him bowl so fast, even in the nets, was a great experience. That kind of pace was a rarity in domestic cricket and the batsmen were often scared. Even in the nets some thought twice before facing him! We've played almost all our cricket together, and there have been a lot of good times. It was nice having him around at that moment. He told me to 'relax' before I got the 300th wicket.

Some of the dismissals you remember on the way to the mark.

Steve Waugh in Chennai, I castled him with a fizzy flipper. Then I remember getting Mike Atherton bowled in Leeds. The delivery spun from leg and middle and hit the off. He was batting well at that point of time. My first wicket in Tests was important too.

There has also been some criticism over the years, even during periods when you were among the wickets. Does it hurt?

Sometimes it does. People have their opinions. Over the years you also learn to ignore unfair criticism. Comparisons do not help. I am a different bowler, but my methods have been effective.

Apart from your talent and heart, is your simplicity the secret of your success?

You are what you are because of the past, and you should never forget that. It is important to keep your feet on the ground. I would also like to add here that my 300 wickets in Tests is a collective effort. I've taken the wickets because there have been fielders who have taken the catches for me, bowlers who have supported me from the other end. The credit goes to all of them.

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