Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman and Sourav Ganguly are being felicitated by the BCCI in the chandelier-dripping club house at the stadium, in the presence of the who’s who of Indian cricket and there isn’t a cricketer who isn’t moved, writes S. Ram Mahesh.
Sunday, November 2: Anil Kumble shocks the Ferozeshah Kotla, announcing his retirement today, the final day of the third Test. When the news filters through, everyone cranes for a sight of the Indian captain on the team balcony.
In a rare show of ceremony — all career he has shunned it, concentrating instead on winning more matches for India than anyone in history — Kumble declares India’s second innings so he can bowl one last time in front of the adoring masses. The show of respect and admiration that follows the great man’s final delivery in Test cricket can only be described as a spontaneous outpouring. Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman jostle to lift him for a lap of honour, but find the 38-year-old as heavy as his achievements. M.S. Dhoni, who succeeds Kumble, lifts his predecessor on his shoulders in a remarkable show of strength, as the champion is paraded around one of his favourite hunting grounds. Sachin Tendulkar guards the flanks to ensure his great mate, a fellow traveller for the best part of two decades, is allowed his moment. Several in the crowd have teared up; even the press box isn’t exempt from emotion. Kumble’s press conference this evening is much like the man: honest, simple, direct, heart-felt.
After a short, warm interaction, in which he says his body had told him it was time to go, and that the last few months didn’t unfold as he would have liked, he leaves, asking to be left alone for a couple of days, but assuring everyone that he will soon be taking calls. A standing ovation from the press corps, and murmurs of “What a man!”
Monday, November 3: After the emotions of yesterday, the diary springs out of bed at 3.30 a.m. for a ridiculously early flight to Nagpur. Such is the life of the sports journalist dear reader — a job like no other, but decidedly not for the late riser. An irony, for the diary doesn’t meet too many comrades who are up at the crack of dawn. Indeed the mysterious world of the sports journalist is peopled almost exclusively by owls, several of whom tipple well into the night. In a further twist, the later a sports journalist, sleeps the earlier he or she rises. How much ever the world tries to stereotype us, we will not die … wait that’s from another speech. Sorry dear reader, but anyone who hasn’t slept for 20 hours is apt to be muddled and grumpy. Even as great a personage as the diary.
Tuesday, November 4: The story of the day: “Indians continue quest for Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Jumbo’s presence”. The Jumbo in question isn’t the great Indian leg-spinner who retired recently, but — get this — an extra-long team bus. Both India and Australia practise at the old VCA Stadium, the practice facilities at the new one aren’t ready yet, as the diary tries to find a clean spot to sit, it realises there isn’t one. What price a broom?
The Bengali press descend on Nagpur to pay homage to Kolkata’s most-loved son, who will play his final Test in the city of oranges. They are their usual well-behaved, fair-minded, unbiased selves during the Harbhajan Singh presser; such a pleasure to work with.
Wednesday, November 5: Barack Obama’s victory doesn’t draw attention away from the fourth Test — neither Ricky Ponting nor M.S. Dhoni is asked what Obama’s victory will do for their respective countries, world peace, or the phenomenon of reverse swing — but several journalists, including the diary, are taken by the President Elect. In other matters, a few Australian fans staying at the hotel the diary is shacked in cross the busy road to the dusty playground opposite. They get a game of rugby started before Nagpur’s finest challenge them to a game of cricket.
Did the Australians stutter at the final frontier, undone by the spin a taped tennis ball purchased from the loose playground soil? Or did the Ugly Aussie sledge his way to glory? Or did the entire group get told off for creating a ruckus?
Thursday, November 6: More Kleenex please, Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, and Sourav Ganguly are being felicitated by the BCCI in the chandelier-dripping club house at the stadium, in the presence of the who’s who of Indian cricket (and the non-playing members of the Australian squad), and there isn’t a cricketer, family member, journalist, policeman, hanger-on, or freeloader who isn’t moved.
Occasions such as these are near impossible to capture in words, and so the diary will register the thoughts of those concerned:
Tendulkar: About Anil, in 1988-89, I knew Anil as a batsman who could also bowl, who was deceptive but basically a batsman. He is an example of grit and determination, and never letting the opposition know about any physical injuries he might have suffered. The most remarkable example being when he was hit in the jaw in the West Indies and had it plastered and came back to bowl and got rid of Brian Lara. I was VVS’s captain in the 1996-97 South Africa tour where he fractured his knuckle. I saw him sitting in the corner of the dressing room and crying that he would miss the rest of the tour. I sat with him and told that he had a long way to go and that there was a lot of talent in him. Now he has played 100 Test matches. You never got enough praise and your performances were always under-rated. Sourav had tough times with a lot of ups and downs. He has been my one-day partner for a long time and also tried to teach me Bengali. It has been truly fantastic. As for my record, I began playing cricket with a tennis ball and my brother spotted the talent in me. He took me to Ramakant Achrekar, who was my coach. I always go to him even now before a big series. I thank my family and my father who is no longer with us but I feel he is always close to me, protecting me and helping me in overcoming crises. I also thank my mother who has to handle more pressure than me as she is always praying for my success. I also thank my wife for the patience she has shown in putting up with the ups and downs of my career and I thank her for tolerating me.
Kumble: I am not normally someone who shows his emotion but it has been a tough few days to realise that you have to give up something that you have loved all these years. The tribute from the team in Delhi was superb. I also thank the people of India. The last three days have been tough and the amount of support and kind words that have been flooding me has been overwhelming. My family and my wife have always been supportive. Now it’s time to spend quality time with the family and the kids. To VVS, congrats. You are a fantastic team player and I agree with Sachin that you haven’t got the recognition you deserve. But in the team’s cause, you are worth your weight in gold. To Sourav, it’s hard to watch a cricket match from the stadium after so long. Enjoy the remaining four days in the middle. You are a fantastic cricketer and we as a team learnt to win abroad under you. To Sachin, the first newspaper cutting I have says Tendulkar, Kumble score centuries in U-15 cricket. When you came into the team, everyone said he would break all records. When I started playing, people said I wouldn’t last two Tests. You had the challenge of proving them right while I had the challenge of proving them wrong.
Laxman: My parents being doctors, I was also expected to be a doctor and I wanted to be a doctor. Playing cricket was just a childhood fantasy. My role model was my father and I wanted to emulate. I used to feel very proud when his patients came and praised him. But as destiny would have it, my gifts lay elsewhere. Representing India was a proud moment, and representing it in 100 Test matches has proved to be a proud moment for me, my family, friends and my team. I would have liked my wife to be here, but we are expecting our second child, and I didn’t want to take the risk. The mental balance she has shown is remarkable. It’s not easy being the wife of an Indian cricketer.
Ganguly: It has been a long journey for me and to share the dressing room with these four has been a tremendous honour. These are the players I played with first at the U-15 level and I knew they are going to be world champions. From the background that I come, it’s not easy to take life as it comes. So not only cricket, it has been a life-learner for me. I thank my father who has been my greatest supporter and inspiration. He will be saddest man today since I am retiring. I also thank my family, my wife whom I have known for a long time, and my brother. I have made enemies and I have made friends, but it has all been for the good of Indian cricket. I am sure you have all walked the park with me and enjoyed the ride.
Friday, November 7: Allan Border and Sunil Gavaskar, the men after whom the trophy India and Australia contest is named, stroll through the magnificent press box here at the new VCA Stadium, taking in the many hoary photographs that adorn the wood-panelled walls. One, that of Michael Holding, has them in splits. Says Border to Gavaskar, “You reckon we can get a copy of this and ask him if he can sign it for us?”. Replies Gavaskar, “Ha, Ha, Ha. He’ll laugh, will Mikey.” The fast-bowler has been captured in a compromising position, kicking down the stumps in New Zealand, in case the discerning reader hasn’t deduced.
Saturday, November 8: Thus ends another edition of the diary. So long and thanks for the fish.
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