Ahead of the first test, Anil Kumble asks the media to focus on cricket and let the players decide their retirement dates
BANGALORE: Following Sourav Ganguly’s decision to retire from international cricket post the Australia series, the other seniors in the team have obviously come under further scrutiny. India’s Test captain Anil Kumble, who has already opted out of ODIs, is one of them. When questioned by the media about his retirement plans after the practice session on Wednesday, an irritated Kumble shot back: “I will let you know when my last series is. I am not someone who would like to take things as it comes. I don’t like to say yes or no. I will announce when the time has come. Let’s stop all this for now. Let the players decide when they need to go.”
He, however, did admit to the fact that it might well be his last Test at the Chinnaswamy stadium in Bangalore, which is his home ground. “This will certainly be my last Test match in Bangalore. I don’t know when the next Test match here is going to be. I don’t want to look that far ahead; I would like to take one series at a time,” said Kumble.
Bangalore is scheduled to host the next Test match in November 2009 when Sri Lanka tours India.
Earlier in the day, during the Indian team’s practice, Kumble was seen working hard on his batting in the nets. Subsequently, he worked on taking return catches with the fielding coach, Robin Singh, an effort that might prove to be useful on the Indian pitches.
The Chinnaswamy strip seems to be a hard one and, if sources are to be believed, it has already started cracking up. A result clearly seems inevitable.
Unlike Ricky Ponting who dwelled on the impact Sourav Ganguly’s announcement would have on the Indians, Kumble deftly played down the decision’s influence by placing the team over individuals.
“I don’t think it’s a distraction. It’s his personal choice; he certainly has had a fantastic career. I hope the series would be good for him and for team India as well. For us, team comes first before any individual. The focus is going to be to go out there and do the job for the team,” he said.
