Kumble
New Delhi: Literally, there was no ground beneath his feet as Anil Kumble, lifted by his overwhelmed teammates, made a round of the Ferozeshah Kotla for a last time before walking into sunset where his wife and children awaited the man they missed so often.
The moment Kumble's abrupt decision to hang up his boots was flashed on Kotla's giant screen, the third Test was rendered to a sideshow. After India declared their second innings, Kumble came out to bowl the first over. Teammates, support staff and the bevy of photographers beelined the passage from dressing room to the ground as Kumble walked out to bowl amid thunderous applause.
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Sachin Tendulkar, comrade-in-arms in many a battle together, took Kumble's cap and passed it on to umpire Billy Bowden, a gesture he believes would ensure a wicket for the seasoned leg-spinner. "Unfortunately, it didn't happen today," Kumble later said with a smile.
Bowden shook Kumble's hand, as did Matthew Hayden and once the play was called off, Rahul Dravid and Zaheer Khan lifted Kumble and made a round of the ground before Kumble retreated into the dressing room.
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When he walked out for the prize giving ceremony Kumble was accompanied by wife Chetana and two kids. Though everyone around him seemed overwhelmed, Kumble was in full control of his emotions. In the post-match press conference, he acknowledged the applaud from the media and talked in details about various aspects of his illustrious career.
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