The Unsung Fighter

The day came with the shocking and emotional news of Kumble's retirement. It was unpredictable end of the strongest pillar of Indian cricket. Everything he did was so characteristic till the final hour of his career where he stolen the limelight for the first time in his career. For that one hour cricket had taken the backseat and Kumble was driving the show, millions of eyes glued to him, hundreds of cameras focused on him to catch one final click. One could see the emotions on the face of Tendulkar who handed over the cap for one last time.

He was the greatest servant of Indian cricket and the unsung hero. Critics said that he is the leggie who cant bowl leg spin and the most boring batsman, but never the less his stats suggests he is the biggest match winner for India. For him the personal achievements were secondary, he played for India everyday of his glorious career. He knew the value of the blue cap which he always kept on high, also on that one last day. He ended the way a soldier would like to leave the battle field, consumed to the one last drop of blood. He returned to Kotla just to because India had chance to win if he was added to the equation, he delayed the decision to make sure the team mates don't lose the focus from the game. One can never forget his heroics at Antigua where he bowled with broken jaw to take the wicket of Lara, he returned to India on the next day with satisfaction that he did his best before he left. Six year later he played his final test with 11 stitches and unbearable pain but with same brave heart.

His final words before he stepped down summed up his attitude over last 18years. It was great to see Anil in limelight for the first and final time, his last wrong'un undid every one. The Big screen on Kotla reflected the emotion of cricket lovers all over the world just in four words "jumbo you are awesome!"