‘Our Karnataka lion Anil Kumble’ – Fans react as Anil Kumble recalls conversation with his wife when he fractured his jaw

Anil Kumble, a former leg-spinner for India, opted to challenge the likes of Brian Lara during the Antigua Test in 2002 despite having a wrapped face and a fractured jaw. His wife Chethana assumed he was “probably joking,” but later she found out that he was not joking. Lara, the Prince of Trinidad, has three shots for every delivery, making him one of the toughest batters Kumble has bowled to.

Lara’s terrifying reputation did not, however, prevent Kumble from pulling off one of the boldest cricketing feats when he threw 14 straight overs and knocked Lara out with a wired jaw. “I told my wife, Chetna and I called her up. When we spoke, I said, look I know I have to come home because I just need surgery. So, she arranged for all of that in Bangalore,” Kumble was quoted as saying in JioCinema.

I think it was good that most of them were a part of my team: Anil Kumble

“…And as I dropped off the call, I just told her that look I’ll go and bowl, but she thought probably I was just joking. I don’t think she even took it seriously. What’s he saying? So, when I went back to the dressing room, I saw Sachin (Tendulkar) bowling because he was the only guy in the team who could bowl and then Wavell Hinds, I think was playing I don’t remember somebody else was batting,” the leg-spinner asserted.

“And I thought it was my chance. I have to go and get a couple of wickets. If we can get West Indies three or four down, end of day two or three. I think if you can get them out, then maybe, we have a chance to win the game. That was the only thought. So, I told Andrew Leipus – get me out there,” the 52-year-old stated.

When asked which players were the hardest he had ever faced while bowling, he named Lara, Saeed Anwar, Jacques Kallis, and Aravinda de Silva among others. “Well, I think it was good that most of them were a part of my team. Imagine bowling at Sachin, Rahul, Saurav, Viru, Laxman, all these guys in a match. It would have been a nightmare. Jokes apart had some wonderful batters whom I bowled against. Aravinda de Silva was a tough one and Brian Lara – he probably had three shots to every ball and he would change. You would think that you’ve got him,” the former India skipper said.

Here’s how fans reacted:

And he took Lara's wicket with broken jaw

— CricXP (@CricXP) July 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/itzsumitsaxena/status/1679055707042357249?s=20

Pehle jaisa commitment ab nhi dikhta Indian cricket me ngl

— Speedy (@Kya_be17) July 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/Agastya_45/status/1679049263484137472?s=20

True lion of india, unimaginable pressure on a broken jaw every time you bowl but still he gave everything he had for india,what a match winner !!

— Noone (@UdtaS) July 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/being_sunny1/status/1679052210200797184?s=20

Kumble was much fitter with broken jaw compared to so many players in present squad.

— Chirag Barjatya (@chiragbarjatyaa) July 12, 2023

https://twitter.com/AnushSpidey1/status/1679048389139521538?s=20