Related Links : Anil Kumble : Pakistan’s Tour of India
Veteran leg spinner Anil Kumble has been named as India’s new Test Skipper. Kumble will lead the team for the upcoming 3-Test Match Series against Pakistan.
Appointing someone who is already 37 and also at the fag end of his international career as the Captain is quite a surprising move from the Selectors. But Anil Kumble at some point in his illustrious career deserved an opportunity to lead India and that has come now although late, it’s better than never. Kumble hasn’t been new to Captaincy, he has led his state side Karnataka on several occasions at the first class levels and had also got a rare honour of captaining India in a One Dayer against England at Chennai in 2002 because of the then Captain Sourav Ganguly missing out because of an injury. Kumble has been Vice-Captain of the Indian team as well for sometime.
The Selectors had first approached Sachin Tendulkar to take up the reigns in Test Matches but after the little master had refused the responsibility, the Selectors had to look at someone else. Sourav Ganguly, India’s most successful Captain was the frontrunner for the job along with MS Dhoni who has impressed one and all his shrewd stint in the limited overs version of the game. But there was a dark horse in Anil Kumble, who was least expected to be named as the man! Mahendra Singh Dhoni is expected to be named as Kumble’s Deputy.
With the job being entrusted to Kumble, it is not sure how long he will be at the helm as one doesn’t seem to find many years of cricket left in him. Infact he may hang his boots after the completion of this ongoing season. Kumble, however has been India’s biggest match winner in Test Cricket in its history and the Selectors therefore might have thought that they had to reward the great man with the top honour before he retires from the game.
Squad retained for remaining One Dayers
The 15-man squad that was picked for the first two One Dayers has been retained for the remaining three ODIs as well. This means that the Selectors have made former Captain Rahul Dravid waiting to make a comeback in the One Day team while Virender Sehwag has been given another opportunity to get back amongst the runs.