The Board of Control for Cricket in India joined in the well wishes for Kumble’s 47th birthday but quickly backtracked after its low-key description sent fans into a spin.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest spinners of all time, Kumble retired from ODI cricket after India’s forgettable 2007 ICC World Cup campaign. In an international career spanning nearly two decades, Kumble took 619 wickets in Test cricket and 337 in ODIs. He is the only Indian to have taken 10 wickets in a single Test innings. He was also only the second player overall to do so and he made the achievement against Pakistan in New Delhi. Kumble was named captain of the Indian Test team in 2007. Just a month after his 37th birthday.
Anil Kumble fans angered. They saying the board was playing down the achievements of India’s greatest bowler.
“Umm bowler? Wasn’t he also Captain and Coach and is India’s leading Wicket taker?” replied television journalist and author Digvijay Singh Deo on Twitter.
Other fans urged the board to give Kumble his “due respect”. The BCCI then tweeted another message calling him “former captain” and “legend”, but the damage was done.
Kumble’s relationship with the BCCI was the subject of much speculation after his resignation.
As one would expect, former and current players, both India and otherwise, and other personalities from the cricketing fraternity took to Twitter to wish Anil Kumble.
Wish you a very happy birthday, Kumbels! You have been an inspiration for generations together and will continue to be one. pic.twitter.com/3vqMpqhu6E
— sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 17, 2017
On Dhanteras, wishing one of India’s greatest Dhan @anilkumble1074 bhai a very happy birthday.
Jai jai Shiv Shambho,
Happy Birthday Jumbo ! pic.twitter.com/avEDcOgeWJ— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 17, 2017
Yep, best wishes @anilkumble1074 Just knocking me over once again! https://t.co/NV1oZXp1Kr
— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) October 17, 2017