Kumble and the Test captaincy

Ramachandra Guha, writing in the Hindu, is relieved that Anil Kumble has been given an opportunity to captain India in Tests and also discusses how Kumble has managed what even fellow legspinner Shane Warne had failed to do: score a Test century and captain his country.

When Anil Kumble scored that unlikely hundred at Lord’s, even he did not entertain thoughts of Test captaincy. His fellow townsman Rahul Dravid was firmly in command. However, at the end of the English summer, Dravid unexpectedly resigned. The selectors then approached Sachin Tendulkar and apparently got his consent to step in as leader. On second thoughts, Sachin turned down the job, and — after thinking long and hard — the post was offered by the selectors to Kumble instead ...

... The case of Anil Kumble and the Indian captaincy is one of justice delayed but not, in the end, denied. Since India entered Test cricket in 1932, no man has worn the India cap with more pride than Kumble. No man has won more Test matches for his country. As cricketer and human being this leg-spinner from Bangalore is right out of the top drawer. His reward has come six or eight years too late — but perhaps we should be thankful that it has come at all