There was an empty feeling after the IPL season 1 last year. At the end of last years IPL one was left wondering what to do with the evenings till the next IPL. Somehow, this years IPL, when it ended, brought a sigh of relief - that it was over after all. Not that the matches were less entertaining, in fact they were more entertaining as there was an even contest between the bat and the ball most of the times unlike last year, but somehow this seasons IPL did not stay in the mind.
If last years IPL was all about the dynamic showmanship leadership of the charismatic Shane Warne, this yeat it was all about the dignified senior statesman and leader par excellent-Anil Kumble. True, he lost in the final, but how.
Kumble, written off as unfit for 20-20 cricket, took over an under achieving Banglore Royal Challengers team from a totally demotivated, highly priced Kevin Peterson, who has been a unmitigated disaster as a Captain and a Player. The team was set to repeat its last years 7th position standings. Kumble, put some spine into the team, gave them self confidence and led them from front.
The final illustrates the greatness of Kumble. He took upon himself the challenge of bowling the first over to a rampaging Gilchrist. I had wagered a bet that Kumble will open the bowling and get Gilchrist, also that Gilly wont reach double figures. The second ball was a gem. Pitched outside the left handers leg stump, it was a googly (so difficult to turn when the ball is brand new) that pitched, beat Gillys flashing blade and took out the leg stump. Again Kumble came back to clean bowl Symonds who was looking dangerous. Finally, he brought himself on at the fag end when Rohit Sharma was going great guns, deceived him in the flight and took him out followed by Venugopal Rao. 4-16 in 4 overs was a stupendous effort from the old warrior.
It is a pity that he ended up on the losing side. Most of the times, we tend to pay attention only to the tantrum throwers and people who beat their chest, whether in the sports field or in our workplace. The silent, dignified, hard working leader is left unnoticed, till the day he either resigns or retires. Then there is a vaccum and we regret that we have all along taken him for granted and his value is undestood only in his absence. Kumble epitomises that.
Dignity - in life, victory or defeat. That is what Kumbles of this world represents and we are thankful to them for that. Not for Kumble the temper tantrums of Yuvraj (Yuvi as a captain has been a disaster, just look at the way he bad mouths his players and most of the time he couldnt even remember some of his Indian Players names), or the cowardly act of Harbhajan (he took care not to bowl to rampaging batsmen throught the IPL), reprehensible behaviour of Sreesanth, the overhyped aura of Dhoni and Sehway, the arrongance of Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli. Kumble, in contrast put his hand up when it mattered, stood like a rock and backed his team to the hilt. The turn around of his team is what legends are made of. No wonder, for a legend was responsible for it.
It is a privilege to have watched such a great competitor and a gentlemen in my life time.
Thank you Anil Kumble, for restoring the faith in dignified leadership and competitiveness.
