Kumble's On-Air Moment Goes Viral
Former India captain and legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble became the talk of the town on Tuesday, but this time, it was for his actions in the commentary box rather than his cricketing analysis. During the tense closing stages of Day 4 in the second Test against South Africa in Guwahati, Kumble spontaneously recreated KL Rahul's ill-fated shot, a moment that was instantly clipped and spread like wildfire across social media platforms.
As India's chances of saving the match grew increasingly slim, Rahul's dismissal to South African off-spinner Simon Harmer triggered a visible and candid reaction from the usually composed Kumble. The cricketing legend did not hold back, using his hands and body language on live television to demonstrate exactly where the Indian batter went wrong.
The Dismissal That Sparked the Reaction
The pivotal moment occurred when Simon Harmer was brought into the attack late in the session to target the rough patch outside the right-hander's off stump. Harmer delivered a ball that was brimming with drift, dip, and sharp bounce. KL Rahul, who was on 6 runs at the time, came forward anticipating a driveable delivery but critically misjudged the length.
The ball gripped the deteriorating surface, turned sharply, and went on to clatter into Rahul's stumps. This left the Indian team in a precarious position at 27/2, facing a mammoth and seemingly impossible victory target of 522 runs.
Kumble's Technical Breakdown of the Shot
Analyzing the play immediately after his viral mimicry, Anil Kumble gave a masterclass in technical commentary. He praised Simon Harmer for bowling a "brilliant off-spinner with plenty of dip and revolutions" while critiquing Rahul's approach.
"KL committed too early and didn't get to the pitch of the ball, which left him completely exposed," Kumble explained. He elaborated on how experienced batters typically adjust their technique on worn-out pitches, stating, "On fourth- or fifth-day surfaces with rough outside off, you usually protect all three stumps, as the LBW risk is minimal. KL covered the centre stump, but his off-stump remained vulnerable."
The former leg-spinner further dissected Rahul's batting stance, pointing out a crucial technical flaw. "Standing on a middle-and-off guard helps you smother the ball, but a middle-and-leg guard pushes you out, unnecessarily exposing your off-stump. That's precisely what happened here," Kumble said.
Summing up the entire episode, he acknowledged Rahul's lapse in judgment but was quick to credit the bowler's skill. "He probably thought it was a drivable length, but the dip in the delivery completely deceived him. Harmer executed it perfectly, and KL ultimately played a shot he shouldn't have," Kumble concluded.
