Bangalore, March 30: Anil Kumble, India`s most successful bowler in one-day cricket and a perfect team-man, on Friday announced his retirement bringing the curtain down on
his career in this variety of game making it clear he would be available for the test matches.
"I wanted to go with the ball in my hand. It did not happen in the last World Cup. It feels a bit different to be a part of the team and not play. I was hurt at not being a part of the eleven but took it in my stride.
"I spoke to my colleagues and stayed on. This world cup we had a good chance but unfortunately it did not go our way. Its time for me to end and pass the mantle to young players," said 37-year-old Kumble.
The expected announcement came a day after his return from the disastrous World Cup in the Caribbean.
"It has been a one long journey that started in 1990. Today I formally announce my retirement from one-day cricket," Kumble told a press conference here.
"I thought of giving up ODIs four years back. Actually right throughout my career I was fortunate enough to be a part of the team. It became a habit to be a part of the team,"
said Kumble, who has 337 ODI wickets from 271 one-dayers at an average of 30.89.
His test figure reads 547 wickets in 113 matches with an average of 28.65.
Kumble said he was keen to finish his ODI career on a high note, but he was disappointed that it did not happen the way he had wished.
"It`s always nice to finish on a high note. Unfortunately, it does not seem to happen. There is not always a fairytale end. Hopefully it will happen when I leave test
cricket," he said.
Kumble hoped that the BCCI working committee in the first week of next month would help solve the current problems in Indian cricket.
"There are a lot of things to be discussed at this moment. I think BCCI is doing it quite soon and I am sure some good things would come out of that (meeting)," he said.
"It`s not the 15 players who go out and perform. I think a whole lot of other issues are also important. I think board will take up all these things and rest will follow," he said.
Asked whether he had put a time frame for his retirement from test cricket, Kumble said, "I don`t know whether I would quit after 600 or 700 wickets at this moment."
Speaking of the spin talent available in the country, Kumble said, "We have got good number of spinners. Harbhajan is still young at 26. We have Ramesh Powar, Piyush Chawla,
Murli Karthik also in line."
About Harbhajan, Kumble said, "As players we rate him as the best. Who rates him as over-rated I don`t know. As players we rate him as a fantastic bowler and who has performed all
these years.
"He has 250 test wickets which makes him a much better cricketer than any spinner who has played for India. He still has a long way to go and as he grows old with experience
he will be a better bowler."
Kumble, an engineering graduate, said that he had not made up his mind on what he would do after completely retiring from cricket.
"For the past 17 years I haven`t done anything in engineering. But I feel my education qualification will come in handy at some point of time," he said.
Kumble, flanked by KSCA secretary Brijesh Patel and joint secretary V. Jagannath at the press meet, thanked the players, association and the media for all their support over the
years.
Some of his cricketer friends like Sudhakar Rao, Sunil Joshi, Avinash Vaidya, Vijay Bharadwaj, K. Srinath were also present on the occasion.
The ace spinner`s wife Chetana, his children, mother Saroja Krishnaswami and brother Dinesh were also present.
Bureau Report
