New Delhi:  Indian Cricket’s backbone has called it a day. Legspinner Anil Kumble, undoubtedly India’s most effective match-winner, personified grit a courage for 18 long years. On Sunday, that chunk of self-belief was taken out, leaving a void in the team which might never be filled.

It’s fitting that Kumble’s farewell was somehow tied with his two biggest exploits in public memory. The venue was the Feroz Shah Kotla, the favored hunting ground where he emulated Jim Laker by bagging all ten wickets in 1999. The heavily-bandaged left hand was a pointer to Antigua, where he famously bowled with a broken jaw once in 2002. Till the last, Kumble had persevered.

The announcement, midway through the last day of the third Test, wasn’t the sort of sudden farewell Kumble deserved. The first sign had come just minutes before, when VVS Laxman pointed his bat at the dressing room on completing his half-century and rolled his wrist over.

The Kotla exploded once the giant screens flashed that its favourite son wouldn’t play again after Sunday. The live broadcast had broken the news, though the announcer, a commentator, had come out shortly afterwards and said, "I hope it’s true." It was confirmed minutes later, but questions remain whether Kumble jumped or if he was pushed.

"I had to go through a lot of things even in the early part of my career," said Kumble, "People questioning me, my ability, my fitness, my form, my bowling and effectiveness. I had to go through that then, now right at the end of my career and even in the middle."

Over the past few months, the signs all had been there. The timing was a surprise but not the decision. Kumble’s body wasn’t up to the task, the shoulder was giving up. He had to sit out of the Mohali Test. Injuries had taken their toll. "The body was asking questions every day. I’d like to be remembered only for giving 100%," he said.

The captaincy too was coming in for criticism with bold young turk MS Dhoni waiting in the wings. Kumble’s struggles with the ball this year - 28 wickets in 10 Tests at 50.57 - didn’t befit India’s highest Test wicket-taker, the third on the all-time list. The pressure was mounting from all quarters, including BCCI. The last straw was the freak injury on his left little finger on the third day, which required 11 stitches under general anaesthesia  . It even forced the board to enquire whether he would be fit to play in Nagpur.

Kumble still came back on to the field, took a high catch running backwards, before finally making up his mind on Saturday night. His teammates, who had been informed in the morning, tried the best they could to make the moment memorable. A guard of honour began the proceedings when India took the field. Chased by the cameras, Kumble adjusted the worn India cap and began to bowl.

The lap of honour after the game was the first time he was actually seen smiling. Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, then Zaheer and Dravid, hoisted him on the shoulder to standing ovations as the cameras went crazy. The screen flashed, "You are awesome, Jumbo." Then came the most poignant moment of all, the passing of the baton. A laughing Kumble, saluting the crowd, was carried around on Dhoni’s shoulders.

It could all have been planned better, like the Aussies did with Steve Waugh in 2004. But the immediacy made the moment memorable. Kumble showed little emotion during the packed media interaction. He perhaps realised he was the first of the seniors to go, preempting Sourav Ganguly’s last Test in Nagpur.

This is the beginning of the end of Indian cricket’s most successful era. After the crowds had left, the dressing room erupted in cheers and champagne was passed around. Through the raucous cheers, Rahul Dravid, long-time friend and Karnataka teammate, emerged alone on the balcony, sipping his drink in silence, staring at the empty Kotla.

He looked like he would gladly exchange the champagne flute for a Crystal ball.