Legendary batsman Rahul Dravid lauded Anil Kumble’s s contribution to Indian cricket and felt that his former teammate should be treated better. Dravid, who is currently coaching the Under-19 side, was speaking at a book launch event.
Kumble’s critics increased by a significant number after his controversial exit earlier this year. Controversy erupted just before the start Champions Trophy 2017 about a rift between the skipper Kohli and coach Kumble. Initially, the matter was shrugged off by the BCCI and other top names. However, the uneasiness soon was exposed when Kumble decided to step down from the position after the bitter Indian loss to Pakistan in the finals.
Unlike two weeks before the resignation, when all people had to discuss was speculation, the rift between Kohli and Kumble was visible naked after the latter posted a candid letter on Twitter. Thus, clarifying that there were indeed problems between the two.
The aftermath of the while saga saw experts, former cricketers and fans forming divided opinions with a majority of them backing Kohli who claimed Kumble, as a coach, was strict beyond his team’s liking.
“A legend like @anilkumble1074 deserved to be treated better,” says Rahul Dravid.
Democracy’s XI
Veteran Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai, who also is the son of former India skipper Dilip Sardesai, recently released his book – Democracy’s XI – in which he gives a fitting tribute, chronicling the tales of the rise of 11 cricketing legends of modern India.
Cricket has had a long-standing presence in Indian right from the pre-independence era. It’s popularity kept growing steadily before the 1983 World Cup boost which changed the landscape of the entire sporting structure in India.
Rajdeep Sardesai grew up listening to the pre-independence era tales and witnessed some of the most post-independence era cricketing moments including the antics of Kapil’s Devils, making him a perfect “Cricket Nut.”
In this book, he has tried to pen down his journalist’s outlook combined with the sheer love for the game for the current generation.
“I had three motivations to write this book,” says Rajdeep in a telephonic interview. “For starters, if we want to celebrate the fact that we are now a champion team, I think it was important to tell the story of Indian cricket, as it happened over the last 70 years. Second, I wanted to show how, unlike our Bollywood stars, our sporting heroes, who are the real superstars, are driven by raw talent, hard work and sacrifice. Lastly, I wanted to point out how cricket breaks barriers and unites the country like nobody does.”