Kumble: Hopefully I'll be fully fit in less than two months
Anil Kumble © CricInfo Every day the mail boxes are bombarded with e-mails from anxious fans wanting to know when ace Indian legspinner Anil Kumble will return to international cricket
Anand Vasu
18-Jul-2001
| Anil Kumble
© CricInfo |
Several weeks earlier, the Indian coach, John Wright was quoted as
saying that the return to the Indian team would not be an easy one for
Anil Kumble. He added that Kumble would have to fight to regain his
spot. With little or no domestic cricket in the offing, the position
was an unfamiliar one for the Karnataka leggie. As you would expect,
the man who has earned a reputation of being cool as ice is not
perturbed by this. "I'm not anxious at all about the fact that there
isn't much domestic cricket in the near future. In August I will be
playing in the Karnataka State Cricket Association Golden Jubilee
Tournament and that will give me a chance to test the waters.
Obviously there's a lot of action coming up for the Indian team, and I
need to be at full fitness when I return," explained Kumble, showing
clearly that he had given the matter considerable thought.
Having ended the Test series in Zimbabwe at a 1-1 draw, there was talk
that India were already beginning to miss Kumble. What was perceived
as India's best chance to win a series outside the subcontinent in
over a decade went abegging. With the Indian team already in Sri Lanka
for a limited overs triangular series, also featuring New Zealand and
a Test series soon after, the questions about Kumble's return once
again resurfaced. " I was never thinking specifically along the lines
of returning to the team for the Sri Lanka tour. That would have been
ideal, but you really can't rush these things," began Kumble, making
his stance in the matter amply clear. "My realistic aim has always
been the Indian tour of South Africa. There was a small possibility
that I would be fit in time for the Lanka tour. I would have loved to
make it, but that's not how it turned out," said Kumble.
The fact that Kumble has been India's spearhead with the ball for many
years now gives rise to a unique situation. While the need for him to
return as soon as possible is a tangible one, there is no point in
rushing things either. In this regard, Kumble has played it perfectly
safe. Unlike many cricketers who, in their anxiety to make a comeback,
have made premature returns and broken down soon after, Kumble has
taken his time over his recuperation. So much so that people have been
prompted to wonder, 'is Kumble playing it too safe?' That's a
legitimate question, but one that only Kumble can answer with any
authority. "Although I'm not doing any physiotherapy at this stage,
I'm doing all the routine workouts and exercises that were prescribed.
In fact, I've even started bowling in the nets and I can tell you that
things are okay," said Kumble reassuringly.
Both on the field and off it, Kumble has a reputation of being a
levelheaded and careful individual. Not given to flights of fancy or
hasty decisions, Kumble went as far as turning down a lucrative offer
to do some television commentary. Not so long ago, both Ricky Ponting
and Andy Flower did stints behind the microphone when laid low by
injuries. In turning down the offer, Kumble has only strengthened the
opinion that he was one hundred percent focused on getting fit. To the
last moment Kumble remained guardedly optimistic. "I don't want to
make any promises, but I think you'll see me back in action inside of
two months," said Kumble.
With India leaving for South African shores as late as October, it
would be safe to assume that Kumble will be part of the touring party.