Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble today threw his hat in the ring and said
he is ready to take over as India's next Test captain if selectors ask
him to do so.
The 37-year-old leg-spinner, a veteran of 118 Test and 271 one day matches, said
leading India would be an honour for him but it was upto the selectors
to decide whom they want for the top job.
"I would certainly do the job if asked to. I don't know what the big deal
is, why so much is being made of this. I have said this before also," Kumble
told Cricinfo.
Since Rahul Dravid quit the job after leading India to a successful
tour of England, India are without a Test captain and with Sachin
Tendulkar -- selectors' first choice for the job -- pulling out of the race,
one day skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni seems running a one-horse race.
Kumble said he had no idea if his name would be discussed at all or
not but the ball was now in the selectors' court.
"I don't know whether I'm in the race, but if it's offered it would be
a great honour," said Kumble, who, many felt, could have been a
good captain because of his cerebral approach to the game.
"I have relished it whenever I had the opportunity. But that's not something
for me to decide," Kumble added.
Incidentally, cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has also
advocated having Kumble as the captain of the Test team.
Though Dhoni seems almost certain to get the job, a number of former
players, including Ravi Shastri, have warned that the youngster already
have a lot on his plate and burdening him with Test captaincy might backfire.
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