By Rishabh Naudiyal Last Updated:
Anil Kumble was born on October 17, 1970, in Bangalore to his parents, Krishna Swamy and Saroja. At the age of 13, he joined a local cricket club named ‘Young Cricketers’, but no one in their wildest dreams could imagine that one day he would go on to become one of the greatest spin bowlers in the history of cricket. For the unversed, Anil Kumble is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket (619 wickets in 132 matches).
Anil Kumble is also the only Indian bowler to take ten wickets in a Test innings, a feat which he achieved when India hosted Pakistan back in 1999 in Delhi. The iconic leg spinner is only the second-highest wicket-taker for the Indian team in the ODIs (337 wickets in 271 ODI matches). All these records speak volumes about his stature and ability as a bowler in world cricket. It was in 2005 when Anil was awarded the fourth-highest civilian award, Padma Shri for his incredible contribution to Indian cricket.
Recommended Read: MS Dhoni's Mother-In-Law, Shiela Singh Runs Production House, Dhoni Entertainment Worth Rs 800 Crore
Although different people will have different thoughts, but it is often stated that Anil Kumble has an illustrious career backed with a respectable personality, which qualifies him for being titled as the ‘greatest bowler in Indian cricket history’. The bowler represented India for 18 years, during which he played 132 Tests and 271 ODIs. Talking about the wickets, Kumble picked 619 wickets in the Tests and 337 wickets in the ODIs.
The cricket fraternity will never forget the time when Anil Kumble bowled with a broken jaw in India’s Test match against West Indies back in 2002 and showcased his immense passion for cricket and motivation to help his team. There’s no denying the fact that Anil Kumble is one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket, as he took 956 wickets in his illustrious career, which needs no further introduction.
Continue reading below
While on the professional front, almost everyone is aware of Anil Kumble’s accomplishments and contribution to Indian cricket, and his personal front hardly gets the spotlight. This is why we are going to take a look at Anil Kumble’s personal life today. From his marriage to how he fought for the custody of his stepdaughter, we are going to uncover a series of things about his life. So, without further ado, let’s get started!
It was in 1986 when a girl named Chethana Ramatheertha got married to a stoke broker. Chethana and her husband welcomed a baby girl whom they had named Aaruni. However, soon after the birth of their daughter, the husband-wife duo started indulging in a series of arguments, and it was Chethana, who realised that she had made a big mistake by tying the knot with her husband. As a result, she started working at a travel agency in order to stay away from her husband.
When Chethana Ramatheertha was working at the travel agency, she crossed paths with one of the best cricketers of that time, Anil Kumble. Although their first meeting was a move of destiny, the two made an instant connection, which resulted in a friendship. After this, Kumble and Chethana started meeting time and again, which helped them understand each other both inside and out.
When Chethana Ramatheertha and Anil Kumble were meeting quite frequently, it was the same time when the former was also thinking of ending her marriage. It was in 1998 when Chethana got officially divorced from her husband after a complex legal battle. However, it wasn’t the end of the story for Chethana, as her first husband filed a case in court to get custody of their daughter, Aaruni.
The legal battle to get the custody of her daughter, Aaruni wasn’t easy for her mother, Chethana Ramatheertha, but it was Anil Kumble, who supported her and fought alongside her. In the end, Chethana won the legal battle, and Aaruni’s custody was given to her officially by the court. The entire sequence made Chethana trust Anil a bit more, and their bond indeed got stronger than before.
You May Like This: Meet Babar Azam: Richest Cricketer In Pakistan's World Cup Squad, Expensive Cars, Net Worth, More
After the divorce and custody battle, Anil Kumble finally expressed his feelings to Chethana Ramatheertha and admitted that he wanted her to be in his life. Although the bond and chemistry between her and Kumble were top-notch, but Chethana was still not fully recovered from her broken marriage. However, after multiple discussions, Chethana took the leap of faith and accepted Kumble’s proposal for marriage.
Don’t Miss: AI Imagines Indian Cricketers In Other Professions, From Virat Kohli As Gangster To Sachin As Police
It was in July 1999 when Anil Kumble and Chethana Ramatheertha got married. The cricketer also adopted Chethana’s daughter, Aaruni and gave her his surname. The couple also welcomed two kids, a son named Mayas and a daughter named Svasti. The cricketer hardly comes into the headlines as he prefers to live a low-key life with his wife and kids.
What are your thoughts about Anil Kumble’s love story and his cricketing career? Let us know.
Also Read: Mohammed Siraj's Miya Magic: Rickshaw Driver's Son Who Is Now India's 'Brahmastra' At ICC World Cup
advertisement
advertisement
advertisement