HAPPY MOMENTS: Anil Kumble is overwhelmed by the warmth and affection with which his elevation to captaincy has been greeted by people all around. Mohali: The selectors on Thursday named Anil Kumble as the Test captain for the series against Pakistan. BCCI joint secretary M.P. Pandove announced the decision after the India-Pakistan ODI here.
Kumble had captained India in one ODI against England in 2001-02. He was the vice-captain during Sachin Tendulkar’s stint as Test captain.
India’s highest Test wicket-taker was given the job ahead of ODI captain M.S. Dhoni, after Rahul Dravid’s resignation from captaincy in September and Tendulkar’s refusal to lead the Test team.
Our Principal Correspondent adds from Bangalore
Crackers in the background, the sound of children running around in delight and amidst the noise, Anil Kumble sounded as calm as ever.
He termed his appointment an ‘honour,’ and said that it was a ‘shot in the arm’ that might extend his Test career.
“It is a good feeling to be made the captain. It feels nice. I first heard about it officially from Venkatapathy Raju (selector) last night and yes I had spoken to Dilip (Vengsarkar) and Raju,” Kumble told The Hindu here on Friday afternoon.
His first thoughts as captain? “We hardly have any time for strategising as the ODI series concludes only on November 18. We just get about a couple of days before we play Pakistan in the first Test at Delhi from November 22. And remember they are all back-to-back Tests. Pakistan has a good side and we need to play good cricket.
Players happy “Our players are happy and I have got calls and messages from them. We have a blend of experience and youth. You need the right mix. Yes, I know there is talk about seniors and juniors, but within the team there is nothing like that. I guess all this talk happens only in India.
“For me it is a simple matter of telling the players what their roles are and what they are expected to do.”
Kumble also made it evident that he will be his own man. “I know captaincy in India is a high-pressure job.
“Your moves are dissected and there will be criticism but I will not get affected by all that. At the end of the day, I will back my players. I will take decisions which I feel are the right ones at that time. I will decide on the basis of my cricketing acumen and will also discuss with the others. I will do what is best for the team,” Kumble said.
Warmth and affection Kumble is also overwhelmed by the warmth and affection with which his elevation to captaincy has been greeted by people all around. “I have been getting calls all around, people have been messaging me too, writing lines like ‘you deserve it completely’. I feel happy that so many people believe in my abilities. I want to live up to their hopes.
“We need to keep winning as it is a long season ahead and we do have the players for it. There is so much goodwill all around.”
His predecessor in the hot seat — Rahul Dravid — called up Kumble and congratulated him.
A shot in the arm Has his appointment as captain lengthened his Test career? “Yes, I think so. It is a shot in the arm. It is a big motivation for me to continue playing and to keep doing well for my country. It is a huge honour and I want to live up to it,” Kumble said.
“I thank my wife Chetana, my family, the players, my friends and my well-wishers for all their support,” he added.
* * * More about Kumble
Born on Oct. 17, 1970 in Bangalore
Tests: 118 matches, 566 wickets (at an average of 28.73); 2,212 runs (with one century and four 50s)
Became only the second bowler in Test history to claim all 10 wickets in a an innings in 1999 at New Delhi, emulating England spinner Jim Laker
The third highest wicket-taker in Test history (566), behind Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan
Retired from ODI cricket in March 2007, with 337 wickets at 30.89 from 271 matches
Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1996
