ANIL KUMBLE- THE FIGHTER

He may be a master of his craft but Anil's greatness lies in his ability to always see himself as a student- Rahul Dravid

Why he was a great leader?Though he was asked to lead the national side quite late in his career(17 years after his debut), he was already a leader without the authority in the side. Whether it was Azharuddin, Tendulkar, Ganguly or Rahul Dravid, all his captains tended to depend on him, not just for his match-winning bowling, but also for valuable advice time and again.

Sharp cricketing brain and was a master strategist

A man of few words, Kumble is a “Man of Action”.

He’s known to never have wasted any time on the cricket field.

Intensely competitive, he’s given it all without ever losing his cool or discrediting his team or opponents.

He’s got high standards and pushes himself to the limit.

A role model: his life on and off the field is truly inspirational.

619 wickets in Tests and 337 in ODIs; his is a tall order to emulate.

Thoughtful yet aggressive approach

Kumble- a powerful role model

• Kumble's prodigious capacity to bear pain was proved in Antigua in 2002 when he bandaged his fractured jaw to deliver a stirring spell

• Kumble was part of the golden triangle of spinners who did so much to define Test cricket over the last two decades

• Continuously learning in the mid-2000s when, after a decade of middling away performances, he influenced memorable wins in Headingley, Adelaide, Multan and Kingston, using an improved googly, bigger sidespin and more variation in flight and on the crease.

• In a brilliant though always downplayed career, Kumble claimed virtually every Indian record

• Gifted spinner, stoic warrior, devoted son, gentle father, enthusiastic photographer, demanding team-mate, committed friend

• As a cricketer he never goes to play until he has done his cricketing homework. Batsmen are analyzed, his own bowling is scrutinized, plans are made.

• Wonderfully thorough, organized and disciplined about his approach