Monday, May 25, 2009

Salute to Legend....Anil Kumble.....IPL....Aur Kya!!!!

Last night was the IPL 2009 (season2) finale..
What a match!!!!!!!!! A complete humdinger in which the fortunes swung from one team to the other...a nail biting finish..went down to the wire as they say...
The team which succeeded in holding its nerves won...
It was case of RCB losing it rather than DC wining it...
The two teams who were at the bottom of the points table last year clashed in the finals to win the coveted trophy..
What tremendous turn around of fortunes of both the teams
As they say, generally all of us love fairytale ending...We all want to see the underdogs win...
Though I must confess that I am a big RCB fan since last year even when they were losing their matches left,right and center.
But without any bias, I am sure that all will agree that the RCB team was the most resurgent team this IPL. They had finished number 7 last year and were ridiculed as being the Test Team having all veterans when the success mantra of T20 was supposed to be youngsters with fresh legs and ideas.
This year the mgmt tried complete overhauling of the team by buying Kevin Pieterson at mind blogging price(one of the costliest buys in IPL) they made him the captain,bought Jesse Ryder,traded Zaheer Khan for Robin Uttapa with Mumbai Indians and the earlier coaching & support staff was replaced by Ray Jennings & Co.
The venue of the IPL changed from India to South Africa due to general elections in India and security concerns
The change of venue worked very well for RCB having South African coach and nearly all foreign players in the squad were South Africans .....Then,RCB won the first opening match against RR by 58 runs.....man of the match was none other than so-called Test Specialist ,The Wall.....
I guess most people were shocked ....they thought it could be a fluke maybe .........Miracles cannot happen.......and then RCB proved them right by going back to their good old ways of consistently losing matches......they lost 4 matches on the trot......hmm.......everyone wrote them off and they were not even considered in the running for semi-final berth and then .................they managed to win the game against KKR(who were anyways losing their matches)
After which KP had to go for national duty and with Rahul Dravid back in India for paternal leave.....they were left with daunting task of searching for a new captain midway into the series...........(though the owner had announced Kallis as the man...with his form dipping,he himself was not a surety in the playing eleven, leave alone captaining the side)..........so they had to no option but go for Anil Kumble...........he become the captain by compulsion not by choice much like his Test captaincy for the country.....but what a masterstroke it was....the best decision that the mgmt of RCB had taken since its start of IPL 2008..........and the old warrior was ready for the challenge.......and the rest as they say is history............Kumble was instrumental in reviving the sagging fortunes of RCB..........what a redemption for the team.........what revival............what resurgence of the team............he and his team proved all critics and analysts wrong by wining 5 straight games against the best opposition to storm into the semis and beat CSK convincing to storm into the finals............
Hats off and Kudos to Kumble for his inspirational leadership............no wonder he is one of the greatest Indian player of all times.........Easily one of the most respected player .........
A true legend and complete gentleman........His man managment skills were par excellence........the team looked a complete unit under him........there was tremendous bonding and unity within the team after he took over the captaincy...........and that was what made all the difference in RCB's performance in IPL 2008 and IPL 2009...........He lead from the front.........got himself to bowl when the opposition looking like taking the game away.........his opening spell in the final.........bowling out Gilchrist for a duck in the second ball of the first over was amazing.........
Salute and Kudos to the great man....Anil Kumble........An inspirational leader and amazing bowler.......
Imagine the T20 was supposed to be for the Young & Restless and here ,we have a retired 38 year old that too a spinner bowling magnificently and becoming the highest wicket taker for his side (21 wickets).........remember his 5 wicket spell in the opening match against RR..........He has the best bowling figures in IPL.......( he also has best bowling figures in Test and One days........)
Felt completely sad that RCB lost the final from a wining position............most of all for Kumble.........
He deserved to take the trophy home............
Here's to a true winner and fantastic role model of this era...........

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