Is Kumble as big as Tendulkar?

[Nadeem]

Do we treat Anil Kumble the same way we look at Sachin Tendulkar? "I want my son to become a batsman," Kumble said once. One cannot miss the hint of sarcasm in the words of this living legend. Cricket it seems has become a batsman's game. From Vijay Merchant to Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar, every achievements of theirs has been decorated and celebrated. Fame and fortune have followed thereafter. But spare a moment for this gentle giant who has tirelessly achieved and contributed so much to Indian cricket. Has he got his dues? Is he as big as Sachin? Before the Perth Test Kumble has played 123 Test matches of which India won 41. His contribution in those matches is massive - 279 wickets at an average of 18.41 with 20 five-wicket hauls. Only Tendulkar can claim to have similar kind of statistics. In the 145 Tests that Sachin has played, India have won 45 matches and he averages around 65. And if we equate, Kumble's 600 Test wickets in terms of runs it stands on par with Sachin's 11000 runs. He is just third bowler in the history of game to have six hundred wickets to his name, and its time that the whole nation stands up and takes a bow to this Giant of Indian cricket.