Sport has this tremendous power to unite a nation in victory and defeat. In extra-ordinary circumstances, it also has the power the inspire millions. Athletes are prone to injuries and play through pain most of the time, but when Anil Kumble walked out to bowl with his face bandaged all over, one could simply salute the greatness of the man who put his nation and the team first. His sheer bravery and courage that day at the Antigua Recreation Ground in 2002 took Indian cricket to a new high.
The Indian team is back in Antigua for the four-match Test series against the hosts West Indies and though the setting has changed with Sir Viv Richards Stadium hosting the opening Test, it is worth recollecting the tale of valour as Kumble is back in the dressing room this time as the Head Coach.
The then physio of the Indian team, Andrew Leipus still gets goosebumps as he recalls the incident that began with Kumble looking for his tooth on the field. “To be honest, I learnt a lot that day. He got a scuff mark there at the back of his jaw, but was complaining of pain in front. He felt he lost his tooth and started looking for it on the wicket, but didn’t find anything. As it turned out, the gap that he felt was of the jaw separating.”
The X-Ray remained inconclusive only making it worse for the physio to detect the seriousness. “It was difficult to get urgent medical management at that time. The X-Ray that was conducted remained inconclusive as it barely captured the jaw. We somehow managed to find a dentist, who put a wire around his teeth to hold the jaw but there was still a lot of mobility. Anil had decided that he was going to be back on the field no matter what and I somehow could not tell him not to.”
With a stubborn Kumble, Leipus decided to come up with a temporary solution. “I delved into my tool box and came up with this particular type of strapping. It was not in any medical textbook. Conditions were such that he could not appeal. I told him that I am strapping your jaw literally close to provide some stability.”
But loaded with determination, Kumble was not going to let anything come his way. He did not stop himself from appealing even when the close in fielders were ready to do the job. “He went out, bowled a few overs and appealed and I was like, "Oh my what can I do now?" It was an amazing sense of achievement to see him go out there and go through that pain to do it for his team. It was an amazing learning opportunity for me to see the amount of strength and character Anil had to go out there and fight for the team.”
His overriding presence boosted the morale of the Indian team even as countless others watched in awe. Their joy knew no bounds when a bruised soldier dismissed Brian Lara. “We needed someone. We needed a spinner to come and bowl and salvage result in that game. What was to be seen was something very historic. It was an example of full courage.
“He showed the entire country and the world what courage he had and what resolve he had from within. Getting Lara out was the touching point. That spell put India on the map. It showed how India was to play with courage and bravado,” said senior India member, R. Ashwin
For vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, the moment has been etched in the memory. “When you represent your country, nobody can stop you. I was very young and that moment inspired me a lot. Not only did he bowl, but also got Brian Lara's wicket and that was commendable.
His remarkable act has proved one thing that next time an Indian cricketer is hit; he will come out doubly hard to the job for his team. “We're back in Antigua and he is sharing the dressing room with us. We can't have anybody else better than Anil Kumble to show the way forward,” Ashwin summed up the mood in the camp.
