Both men were part of history and have carved a place in history engraving their names in every Indian's heart. Anil and Souvrav were match winners, respected and honoured by team-mates and opponents alike.
Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble were a Indian Cricketers and also much more than just cricketers. Ganguly's career was of highs and lows, mountain peaks and dark valleys, from one extreme to another, yet he journeyed on and still is going strong. S. Dinakar wrote in an article I read recently, "It has been a compelling journey for the man they call Dada. While the issue of fitness has tormented him, an indomitable spirit has been his greatest ally." Fitness has also tormented kumble and probably led for his early exit. S. Dinakar writes, "Jumbo was larger than life. Kumble bucked a the odds and returned from a career-threatening shoulder injury. And he was arguably, India's biggest match-winner." And how right he is.
The Prince
Name's are special and especially if yours happens to Sourav Chandidas Ganguly. People call him by many names, Dada, The Prince, Maharaja, and the Bengal Tiger. Hate him or love him, one can't help but notice him.
I happen to read S. Dinakar’s column again and he wrote, “Sourav Ganguly is not in the Rest of India team for the Irani Trophy. Does it mean it’s the end of the road for the former India captain? In cricket you can never tell. The tale of the Bengal Tiger might not be over yet.” And how right he was. The Ganguly swansong was not over. On October 1st Ganguly was handed another life line by the new Indian selection panel. The Prince had resurrected himself again and I wrote this on October 2nd,
http://christopherdavid007.blogspot.com/2008/10/king-of-comebacks.html 
But on the 7th of October, I had the shock of my life. My dad informed me that Sourav has informed of his retirement. I couldn't believe my ears and thought my dad was pulling my leg when he said that Saurav Ganguly has officially announced his retirement. So I flipped through the news channels and was not ready for what I saw. It was true. One of the four jewels of the famed Indian middle-order has announced his retirement. I wrote the following on that day expressing my surprise and shock at,
http://christopherdavid007.blogspot.com/2008/10/final-curtain.html Nobody expected it and what was to be a just a regular press conference turned out to be the site of a nuclear bomb blast. The 36 year old former India captain said, “I have an announcement to make,” He then added: “This is my last series.” His words betrayed a feeling of hurt caused by his fans, the BCCI, and the ever scrutinizing media. He had every right to feel bad. From the time of his dream comeback at the Wanderers against South Africa, He has scored 1667 runs (not including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy), the highest by any Indian in the same period. “I don’t think you can do this in sports. You cannot do it to players like Sachin (Tendulkar), Rahul (Dravid), V.V.S. (Laxman), Anil (Kumble), and myself. Okay, we failed in one series but we have done so well over a number of years. When their time comes, they will go out on their own terms. They are men for the big occasions. When you play so long, speculations do not bother you.” said Ganguly.
The media always looking for a good story with plenty of masala and garnishing cooked up a brilliant story of the BCCI planning retirement scheme. According to it, Ganguly was on the top of the list. (I wonder where these news people get such ideas). This kind of rubbish, I hate and probably made the fab four (should be the fab five including Kumble) come under immense pressure as they had to deny that such a policy existed. Ganguly made it very clear that he was leaving on his own terms and not on any voluntary retirement scheme. “No senior player has been asked about retirement plans by the Board”, revealed Ganguly. Then Ganguly expressed his hurt in an interview to a Bengal newspaper. The exact words, I’ve posted at,
http://christopherdavid007.blogspot.com/2008/10/declared-innings-unhappily.html
The most successful Indian left-hander was known for his glorious timing and stroke-play. His nippy stump-to-stump medium pace has often done miracles.
Ganguly who mostly plays in the off-side, tends to crouch more with a higher back-lift for off-side play. Thus he has always struggled against the ball coming in to him. He has technical shortcomings against sort-pitched deliveries. He as also had trouble in the corridor. But Ganguly worked on his batsmanship. And this was evident in his comeback where he played closer to the body with much better foot work. Greg Chappe; acknowledged, "I have never seen Ganguly bat better". Ganguly in his peak could bat in his sleep and has made runs in pitches with pace, swing and bounce. S. Dinakar writes, "In the off-side, he stroked with timing more than power; a seemingly harmless push would scorch the turf". No wonder he is known as 'the god of off-side'.
He was also India's most successful test captain with 21 victorie
s from 49 matches. He made a group of youngsters in rags into a champion team who believed they could win every time they set on to the field. He backed players whom he trusted and just look what has happened to M.S. Dhoni because of him. He was also tough talking and had the 'in your face' attitude. He was a ruthless captain and well respected by his oppenents for his aggressive approach. He was only the second Indian captain to lead a team to the World Cup final. Even in his final series which I've termed it as his final frontier, has been a very good one. In Mohali he came up with a match-winning century and in the first innings of his last test managed to score 85. Ganguly is leaving on a high and what more could anyone ask for?
To know about Ganguly's stats go to,
http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/india/content/player/28779.html
S. Dinakar writes, "Loathe him for his faults or admire him for his talent, Ganguly is bound to be missed".
Jumbo
Anil Kumble another captain of the Indian team decided to call it quits. Kumble was another player who like Ganguly, had seen the ups and downs and contributed heavily to Indian cricket but unlike Ganguly, he was a player, captain and mentor who stayed far from the public's eye. He was a behind-the-scenes kind of man who probably was India's lone match-winner in the past decade.
On November 2nd the script-writer of many Indian victories bid adieu to Test cricket in the most queer manner. He let the world know of his retirement only a few hours before his retirement. But the fashion of his exit was one the champion would not have liked nor his fans.
I wrote a post on his retirement at,
http://christopherdavid007.blogspot.com/2008/11/farewell-kumble.html
In a recent article I read, Y.B. Sarangi writes, "Despite his race against time, the man who cammanded 18 years of respect in world cricket calls it quit gracefully".
It was only fitting Kumble chose the the Kotla as the venue to bid adieu to his cricketing career. In 1999 against Pakistan, the leg-spinner bagged all ten wickets in an innings to become first Indian to hold such a record. He has 58 wickets in seven Tests at Kotla. It was also here where he made his captaincy debut and became the second person after Jim Laker to bag 10 wickets in an innings.
Kumble was a fighter who loved combats. He would fight with his last ounce of energy even in an losing cause. I remember him in Antigua in 2002 bowling with a broken jaw and getting the price wicket of Lara. E
ven in his last match, he bowled with a heavily bandaged hand and his last wicket, his 619, was one that he caught of his own bowling. He surely be remembered as one who gave his best and nothing less than cent percent for the team's cause. "I'd like to be remembered for giving 100 percent for the team every time I went out there", said Kumble. And that's exactly how he will be remembered. This next post explains his incredible work ethic at,
http://rahul-dravid-the-wall.blogspot.com/2008/11/we-will-miss-you-jumbo.html
Sarangi writes, "He is not who would grimace and complain and when the finger injury told it was time. Kumble obeyed." It was Anil's fitness and not criticism that forced him to quit.
Kumble was a medium pacer turned spinner and was not the orthodox spinner. While conventional spinners relied on flight, and turn, Kumble relied on subtle pace variations, seam and bounce. His nickname Jumbo orginated from the way his balls used to take off like the flight 'Jumbo'. Kumble also has an impressive record against the Aussies which prove beyond doubt the best in the world struggled dearly with him. Kumble was a sincere student of the game and always looked to evolve his game. He revived the art of spin bowling when it looked as it would die out. S. Dinakar writes, "The presion of Kumble's bowling, the ability to send down long spells with control and accuracy, subtle variations, slight spin and killer bounce made him a formidable adversary."
Kumble was also a gentle man who never did of anything which brought disgrace to him, the team or the game. In his 18 long years he was never pulled up for bad behavior. This next post probably describes him better,
http://gateway-to-my-world.blogspot.com/2008/11/adios-gentleman.html The Bangalore player was also respected by team mates and opponents alike.
Kumble also reached out to the youngsters in the team. Kumble's discipline and preparation before and during matches and his words of guidance always helped the new-comers feel at home. Amit Mishra reveals that it was Kumble who first called him to tell him of his selection and the champion leaves a void that will be bitterly fought between Amit Mishra and Piyush Chawla. Youngsters saw Kumble as a role model and a warrior who would not lift his hands to kill even a fly. He was a warrior with a big heart who would only topple over batsman. The team's admiration towards their captain was seen during his send off at Kotla. Kumble was al
so another player who made many a comebacks. His comeback in 1992 made him a permenant player for the team. His comeback in 2001 after a shoulder surgery only showed his resolve. Kumble was a devastating bowler in any pitch and in Australia in 2004 he almost won India the series as pitches with bounce suited his bowling more. Kumble also has made many valuable partnership with the tail. It was only rightfull that he have a century to his name. Though 'Kumble the humble gaint' has called it a day he will always live on.
To know more about India's leading wicket taker visit,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anil_Kumble .This link is the official site of Kumble,
http://www.kumble.com/
Farewell
Farewell to both Kumble and Sourav. Thank you for your contribution and for the smiles you put on all Indians face. It will be impossible to replace you and we all will terribly miss you. Hope you have a pleasant time after cricket. Good luck on your cricket academy Kumble and all future plans of the former captains. Good Luck and good bye.
Wish you a happy time after cricket.
Videos
To see Kumble's perfect 10 go to,
And to see Dada bat like never before go to,
Farewell Legands
