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'My Wife Thought I Was Joking': Anil Kumble On Bowling With Broken Jaw vs West Indies

image-ljzf24grAnil Kumble bowling with a broken jaw in Antigua Test in 2002 [Source: Twitter]

One of the most recognisable moments in Indian cricket is former captain Anil Kumble bowling against the West Indies with a broken jaw in Antigua during the 2002 tour. Kumble displayed grit, courage and stood in the face of pain, and bowled as many as 14 consecutive overs against a line-up that boasted of Brian Lara, Carl Hooper, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, and Ridley Jacobs. 

The leg-spinner got hit on the head by a Mervyn Dillon bouncer in the first innings, where India declared on 513 for 9. About the incident, the leg-spinner revealed an interesting anecdote involving her wife, Chethana Kumble, who did not believe that the Indian bowler would bowl with a broken jaw. 

My wife thought I won't go out to bowl: Kumble

"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. …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?"

Speaking on Jio Cinema, India's highest Test wicket-taker further explained the process behind going out to bowl despite a severe injury.  

Interestingly, Kumble claimed the wicket of Lara and dished out 14 overs, giving away just 29 runs, before flying off to Bangalore for surgery the next day.

"So, when I went back to the dressing room, I saw Sachin 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."

"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 Test ended in a draw, and West Indies went on to win the five-match series 2-1 after clinching the fifth and final encounter by 155 runs.