Former India spinner Anil Kumble was one of the best players to play for India. However, he didn’t had a great start to his career. When he was selected in the Indian team, he faced resistance from many former cricketer, who thought his bowling was not suited to international standards as he was not able to spin the ball.
Early in his career, he was roughly treated by the then captain Kapil Dev, recalls spin legend Bishan Singh Bedi..
During the India vs England Old Trafford Test match in 1990, Kapil had positioned Kumble at deep fine leg. He then bowled a bouncer to Allan Lamb and the ball went towards Anil Kumble but he couldn’t grab it. Kapil was one wicket away from breaking the world record for most wickets in Test matches.
“I was the team manager. Kapil scolded Kumble on the field. Kapil had played 100 Tests by them and Anil was team’s new baby. I saw him crying in the dressing room. That might have strengthened him. Shedding tears at that moment was important. It was important that he felt bad at that moment,” Bedi said on ‘The Mid Wicket Tales’.
Kumble ended up taking 965 wickets in his international career.