Apart from being India's greatest match-winning bowler, there have been very few cricketers who have worn the India cap with such grace, dignity and patriotism as Anil Kumble.

Wide Angle-Candid Moments from my Playing Days By Anil Kumble
Printed by Canvera.com
Designed and published by Krab Media

Available exclusively online from wideangle.canvera.com.
182 Pages; Price: Rs. 5,900/-
Book ships worldwide.

Review by Gulu Ezekiel

Apart from being India's greatest match-winning bowler, there have been very few cricketers who have worn the India cap with such grace, dignity and patriotism as Anil Kumble. It has been nearly two years since his retirement from international cricket, though he is still making his mark in the IPL.

Now this outstanding coffee-table book reveals a hitherto hidden talent of the master leg spinner who bowled his heart out for India over two decades. Judging from this collection, photography is more than a hobby, it is a passion for Anil.

Kumble is one of those rare sportspersons who loves to explore every country he visits instead of being cooped up in five-star comfort. It is this quest for knowledge allied to his sharp intellect that makes Anil stand out in a crowd and this book is a wonderful keepsake not only for Anil himself, but for his countless fans around the world.

It was his elder brother Diinesh who presented him with an aim-and-shoot camera for his trip to Srinagar for an Under-17 camp. By the time of his retirement in late 2008 he had progressed to the most sophisticated Canon range equipment.

Starting off with a foreword by Sachin Tendulkar-with a photo dressed up as Gabbar Singh!-to an appreciation by cricket writer Suresh Menon and Anil's introduction, the book takes us on a magical mystery tour from his formative days to the big league and then photo essays on each country Anil has played in.

Cricket fans will be delighted by the candid photos of the Indian team in the dressing room, celebrating victories as well as birthdays and also in fancy dress outfits.

Kumble has another passion and that is his love for wildlife. In fact the final chapter in the book, 'Wildlife Passion' contains some of his best work. My personal favourite is a magnificent shot of a leopard, its limbs and long tail languidly draped across the branch of a tree. Kumble is Vice-Chairman of the Karnataka State Board for Wildlife and involved in the 'Save the Tiger' project.

Finally, a word of appreciation for the printers Canvera. It is thanks to their magnificent production values that the photos in the book seemingly spring to life. Through specialized coating, all the pages have been protected from colour fading and spills and have also been made tear resistant and thanks to this world-class quality, the colours in the book will last for more than 100 years. The binding too is top class and the end result is a world-class product which can be cherished for generations.