Anil Kumble Reveals Why He Came To Bowl With A Broken Jaw: An unforgettable chapter in Indian cricket history is written by former captain Anil Kumble during the 2002 West Indies tour. His grit and determination were on full display when he continued bowling against the Windies, despite sustaining a broken jaw. His opponents included formidable players such as Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Ridley Jacobs.
Kumble was hit on the head by a bouncer from Mervyn Dillon in the first innings, which ended with India declaring at 513 for 9. Recalling this harrowing incident, Kumble revealed an interesting anecdote involving his wife, Chethana Kumble. Apparently, she didn’t believe that her husband would continue bowling despite such a painful injury.
He recounted their conversation during an interview on Jio Cinema, “I called Chetna and told her I needed to come home for surgery. She arranged everything in Bangalore. But when I told her I was going back to bowl, she thought I was joking.”
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Anil Kumble recalls the incident of bowling with a broken jaw
Despite the severe injury, Anil Kumble returned to the field, demonstrating an inspiring level of determination. He even managed to take the prized wicket of Brian Lara, giving away just 29 runs in his 14-over spell. Immediately after, he flew to Bangalore for surgery.
Back in the dressing room, Anil Kumble observed Sachin Tendulkar bowling and realized that he was their only hope. This ignited a sense of duty in him, encouraging him to return to the field. “I saw Sachin bowling and I knew it was my chance. I thought if we could get the West Indies three or four down by the end of the day, we’d have a chance to win,” he explained.
Kumble’s unwavering spirit didn’t alter the outcome of the match, which ended in a draw. The West Indies triumphed in the five-match series with a 2-1 victory. Nonetheless, Kumble’s heroic effort is an enduring testament to his unwavering dedication to his team and the sport. It stands as a beacon of true sportsmanship and serves as an inspiration to countless aspiring cricketers across the globe.
