Anil Kumble has been greatest match winner for India in tests. More so than Dravid, Laxman, Kapil or Tendulkar. Anil has been a champion cricketer who always gave his 100%. He is a superb role model who wore the India cap with pride. India will miss him. I shall never forget his bowling in Hero Cup final in 1993 when he took 6 for 12 against West Indies. Those were the days when cricket telecast from India was produced by TWI and it was great fun to hear Charles Coville wax eloquent about this great man. And ofcourse the Kotla 10fer against Pakistan remains etched in memory. But to my mind his greatest contributions (and oft not recognised) have been his roles in our overseas victories in England (2002, 2007), West Indies (2002, 2006), Pakistan (2004) and Australia (2003, 2007). Anil Kumble had taken 5 wickets or more in each of the test matches India had won in the above mentioned series. Just to prove that he is as much a match winner overseas as he is at home. Goodbye champ and best wishes for a bright future ahead.
I feel in love with Sourav Ganguly watching his silken cover drives during his debt at Lords in 1996. Indeed he was God on the offside ! He has been my favourite cricketer since. More than his contribution with the bat (which is not insignificant), Dada would be remembered for building team India from group of disjointed and disoriented individuals. He instilled steel into the Indian team and we had a dream run from 2001 (Aussie tour of India) - 2004 (India tour to Pak). Hats of to Ganguly. History still remembers Allan Border and Mark Taylor for laying the building blocks of the great Aussie teams under Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. No less is the contribution of Sourav Ganguly. Future generations of Indian team will be eternally grateful for the Dada for building Team India. Best of Luck Dada!
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