Retired! Snubbed Kumble pulls out of IPL auction

Reports indicate Kumble was angry at not being retained by Vijay Mallya’s Royal Challengers Bangalore despite performing so well over the last season or so.

RCB in fact retained young batsman Virat Kohli.

Kumble is one of India’s most senior cricketers and did not expect to be put up for auction at this stage of his career.

It may be recalled that Sachin Tendulkar and some other senior players were retained by their respective teams.

Kumble,who had already quit Test and one-day cricket,said he was withdrawing from the January 8-9 auction because of business commitments,his association with cricket administration and wildlife in various capacities.

It effectively means that Kumble is now retiring from all forms of cricket after playing at the top level for two decades.

“I wish to withdraw from the players auction for IPL IV scheduled for the 8th and 9th of January 2011 in Bangalore,” said the legendary leg-spinner in an IPL release.

“I have enjoyed my stint at the IPL so far and thank all concerned for the support extended,” said Kumble,who was elected as Karnataka State Cricket Association president in November last year.

Kumble’s pulling out of the player’s auction,however,came as a surprise as he had recently increased his base price from USD 2,00,000 to 4,00,000.

He had been among the 22 players with the highest reserve price of USD 400,000 for the IPL auction to be held in Bangalore.

Kumble,who captained Royal Challengers Bangalore in two IPL seasons — in 2009 and 2010,was not retained by RCB for this season. Only Delhi batsman Virat Kohli was retained by RCB for this season.

Kumble,who made his international debut in 1990,retired in 2008,and remains India’s leading wicket-taker in Tests (619) and one-dayers (337).

The former Indian skipper was largely responsible for RCB’s turnaround in the IPL. After being named captain for the 2009 season,Kumble led his team to the final of the Twenty20 league.

A year later,the leg-spinner inspired his team to a third-place finish. Consequently,the team qualified for the Champions League T20 tournament twice under his leadership.

Kumble also took 45 wickets in the three editions of the IPL to prove his worth even in the shortest version of the game.

He was among the most effective bowlers in the previous two seasons,taking 17 wickets with an economy of 6.42 in 2010,and 21 at an economy of 5.86 in 2009.

No sooner Kumble announced his retirement from IPL,RCB appointed him as the chief mentor of the side and said the former leg-spinner will work closely with team owner,Vijay Mallya,and the entire support staff during the fourth edition of the league.

“Anil’s leadership,both on-field and off-field,augured well for the Royal Challengers in the last two seasons of the Indian Premier League as well as the Champions League. I sincerely believe Anil’s presence in the RCB Leadership Team will provide a fresh dimension and perspective to our IPL strategy in the medium and long term,” team owner Mallya said in a statement.

“We believe,his proven track record as a peerless international cricketer and Indian captain,his astute leadership at the IPL that carried RCB to a top-three finish in two successive years coupled with administrative skills offer a unique combination. We look forward to Anil’s contribution towards making RCB a role-model franchise and I am indeed,delighted to welcome him once again on the RCB leadership panel,” Mallya added.

Commenting on his new role at RCB,Kumble,said: “I am excited to take on the mentoring role for Royal Challengers.

At the same time,the task involves huge responsibility to better the benchmarks that Royal Challengers have already created in the last two seasons. I am confident that I will deliver to the team’s and fans’ expectations. I am ready to take on the challenge.”