Internet Desk: After leaving the post of Indian cricket team coach, legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble didn’t talk to media that much. But in a chat show with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella the “headmaster” of Indian cricket revealed that at one stage in his career he faced the challenge of reinventing himself to keep his place in the squad. It had happened during India’s tour to Australia where India managed to draw the four-match Test rubber.
“As a cricketer, you have to hit refresh literally at the end of the every series. Challenges from one series to another are different. But I would like to mention the Australia tour in 2003-04 when I was at the crossroads of my career.
“I was competing for a place in the eleven (with Harbhajan Singh). People had started talking about my retirement as I was in my 30s. I got an opportunity in the Adelaide Test which we famously won.
“I was expensive on day one but came back to take a five- wicket haul. I understood the need of doing something different. So I started bowling a different type of googly, something I had learnt during my tennis ball days. That is when I realised I can make subtle changes to improve my game.”
Hyderabad-born Nadella patiently listened everything what the former Indian said during the chat show. Nadella is also known as a self-proclaimed cricket fan.
When Nadella asked Kumble about the values he inherited from his parents, Kumble said: “The self belief. It comes from the values that you inculcate, looking up to your parents and grandparents.”
“My grandfather was a headmaster in school and I know that term (headmaster) kept coming back to me later in my career. Some of them here will understand (what I am talking about),” said Kumble drawing a gentle laugh from the audience.
Kumble, who earned the reputation of a hard taskmaster, quit as India coach in June under controversial circumstances, citing his untenable relationship with India captain Virat Kohli.
Since then, India’s leading wicket-taker has maintained silence on the issue and so has Kohli.
The conversation between Kumble and Nadella revolved around Microsoft CEO’s book titled ‘Hit Refresh’, released recently. Both talked at length about the ‘Hit Refresh’ moments in their lives.