At a function as glittering as the Golden Ball itself -- made of 300 gm gold, 1500 individual diamonds totalling 37 carats and 640 oval rubies sourced from Antw-erp and made in over a week -- Anil Kumble was felicitated by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for becoming the first Indian to take 600 Test wickets.
Every moment of the br-ief but memorable function was reserved to celebrate, as BCCI treasurer N Sriniva-san pointed out in his inaugural address, India’s greatest match-winner. Present were the Indian and South African teams and many former India captains including Kumble's first Test skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, apart from wife Cheth-ana and his children.
For the man himself, it was a poignant moment that almost drove him to tears. "I am overcome by emotion, I am at a loss for words," admitted Kumble in his acceptance speech after receiving the ball from BCCI president Sharad Pawar. Thanking the BCCI for recognising his efforts, the leggie called on the custodians of the game to strike the right balance between ball and bat.
The Bangalorean made it point to thank Azharuddin, under whom Kumble assu-med gigantic proportions as a match-winner, especially at home. He also made special mention of Bishan Sin-gh Bedi, wicket-keepers fr-om Kiran More to MS Dhoni for their valuable inputs, his spinning mates, Karnataka buddies Venkatesh Prasad and Javagal Srinath, and former Indian physio Andr-ew Leipus. "After my shoulder surgery, I don't think I would have played for India again without Andrew’s help," he recalled. The Indian Test captain said playing alongside Sachin Tendulkar was the most cherished moment of his career.
Srinivasan, Pawar and Kumble's first roomie, Ravi Shastri, virtually ran out of adjectives while heaping praise on the bowler.
Terming Kumble as a gentleman-cricketer, Sriniv-asan said: "He masks his competitiveness behind his pleasing face. He is a natural leader combining aggressi-on with great diplomacy, the one who will never lose his calm and objectiveness even in face of a great turmoil."
Pawar went a step ahead and called the Karnataka bowler a perfect ambassador for both India and the game of cricket. "I wish youngsters watching him on TV learn from him how to behave on the field," he said.
But the best compliment came from Shastri, who termed Kumble uncompromising, relentless and ruthless, yet a humble human being. Shastri declared that in his capacity as National Cricket Academy Chairman, if he were to install the portraits of three role models at the academy, ‘you can be rest assured that you will be right up there.’
Kumble's thanksgiving list also included the media, his first club, the Karnataka State Criket Association and ‘my State Karnataka, without whose support I would never have played for India.’
