Date:21/11/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/11/21/stories/2007112158302300.htm

Sport

I’ll be the voice of the team: Kumble

Special Correspondent

R.P. Singh, Sreesanth out due to injuries; Munaf recalled

Pakistan is tough opposition, says Kumble
Dhoni did not appear in any apparent discomfort during training session

NEW DELHI: Captaining the National Test team may be new for Anil Kumble but captaincy rests easy on his shoulders. This untiring soldier has fought and won many a battle for different commanders in the past and learnt a lot along the way. He is articulate, soft-spoken and uses his words carefully.

“Whatever the job demands, I’ll do. As a captain, it is for me to be the voice of the team. I’ll not try and shy away from my responsibilities.” These words sure come from a man who takes every challenge as an opportunity to excel. Over the next three weeks, the cricketing world shall know Kumble, the captain, a little better.

During a brief function to announce Kumble as the Brand Ambassador of Manipal Education here on Tuesday, the skipper tactfully avoided questions related to the upcoming Test series and asked the mediapersons to be patient until Wednesday when he addresses a press conference.

At the same time, he understood the compulsions of the newspersons and obliged them by saying, “It is a great honour to lead the country. Pakistan is tough opposition and we got to respect the fact.”

Returning to play a Test at the Ferozeshah Kotla where the leg-spinner scripted historic figures of 10 for 74 in the second innings against Pakistan and guided India to a 212-run victory in February 1999, the 37-year-old Kumble said with a smile, “Delhi is a very special place for me. Even if I forget what happened on February 7 (1999), people will remind me.”

Meanwhile, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Niranjan Shah said in a press release that medium pacers R. P. Singh and S. Sreesanth were ruled out of the first Test due to injuries. He also said, “the selectors have replaced them with Munaf Patel.”

Earlier, during the net session of the Indian team at the Kotla ground, the squad’s fielding coach Robin Singh put Mahendra Singh Dhoni through the paces.

It may be recalled that Dhoni had suffered an ankle injury while batting during the fifth and final one-day at Jaipur on Sunday. Dhoni did not appear in any apparent discomfort during the session. However, no official, including the cricket manager Lalchand Rajput, was available to speak on the status of Dhoni’s fitness ahead of the first Test.

A clear picture is likely to emerge on Wednesday when Kumble addresses the media.