Go Jumbo- there's a world to win

Dubai: It is often said that after the office of the Prime Minister, the most coveted job in India is that of the Indian cricket captain's. And perhaps for the first time, the captain of the Indian Test team is faced with a situation where he can easily take a leaf or two out of the book of India's most powerful public servant.

Remember the summer of 2004? With practically entire India waiting for her to take over the reins at 7 Race Course Road, Sonia Gandhi dropped a bombshell by refusing to accept the PM's role.

What followed was nothing short of drama and finally when Manmohan Singh took his oath of office, he was a Prime Minister more by default than design - one who was expected to keep the 'hot seat' warm until the 'Prince' (read: Rahul Gandhi) matures enough to assume the role.

Jump cut to the autumn of 2007.

A selection meeting in Mohali, struck by a dilemma similar to the political stasis that rocked Delhi in 2004. With Rahul Dravid quitting the 'hot seat' and Sachin Tendulkar backing out, one Mr Anil Kumble emerged the third-choice candidate for Test captaincy.

It is precisely this situation of being part of a compromise formula that kind of unites the country's foremost economist with India's highest Test wicket-taker. The myopic ramifications of a compromise formula should not necessarily deter Kumble from emerging as a fine leader of men - one having a mind of his own.

Wonderful opportunity

In fact, the present scenario offers the Bangalorean a wonderful opportunity to turn a selectors' dilemma into a problem of plenty. Should he manage to win the series against Pakistan, who knows, in the near future, we may actually have a healthy debate over Test captaincy.

When Singh assumed the PM's office, there were few takers for his brand of astute statesmanship. The vast majority saw him as nothing more than a stop-gap option. But in four years, he has carved out a niche for himself - within the government and also among diplomatic circles the world over. So much so, that today, should Rahul Gandhi become the PM, he will have to live up to the legacy of the septuagenarian Sikh.

Quite like Singh, Kumble has never been known for firebrand gamesmanship. But when it comes to the crunch, he is not the kind to give in without a fight. Remember that spell in the West Indies with a broken jaw in 2002? He has been in the circuit for long enough to be aware of the pitfalls of captaincy and is therefore most unlikely to harbour any illusions.

When Tendulkar quit captaincy in 2000, Kumble was the vice-captain. But no one ever heard him make a fuss when Sourav Ganguly was catapulted to the post, completely ignoring the Karnataka player's claim to the throne. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, 'Jumbo' (as he is affectionately called) took it on his chin and that's what makes him special.

He has been in the circuit for long enough to be aware of the pitfalls of captaincy and is most unlikely to harbour any illusions about his exalted status.