Bengaluru, April 18, 2025 – Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met cricket legend Anil Kumble at his Bengaluru residence on Thursday, showering praise on the “proud Kannadiga” for his 619 Test wickets and global stature. The hour-long chat, shared via Shivakumar’s X post with a smiling selfie, stirred buzz as the Congress leader called Kumble a “role model” for Karnataka’s youth, per Hindustan Times.
“Kumble’s grit is Bengaluru’s spirit,” Shivakumar told reporters, hinting at tapping the icon for state sports initiatives (The Indian Express). Kumble, 54, India’s third-highest wicket-taker, led the state’s cricket association and mentored IPL teams like RCB (Times of India). “We discussed Karnataka’s future—sports, innovation,” Shivakumar added, dodging political angles (The Hindu). X lit up—“DK’s star play!”—but some sniffed politicking: “Election stunt?” (post:1).
The meet’s timing isn’t random—Congress, reeling from a caste census row, needs feel-good PR (The Economic Times). Karnataka’s 7 crore people idolize Kumble, a Padma Shri whose 1999 10-wicket haul still shines (India Today). Shivakumar’s push for a sports university in Bengaluru—Rs 500 crore budgeted—could see Kumble’s expertise (Business Standard). “He’s a gem—let’s use him,” a Congress aide told Deccan Herald. Yet, Kumble’s stayed apolitical, focusing on his Tenvic academy (NDTV).
For India’s tech hub, it’s a morale boost—Bengaluru’s 1.5 lakh sports aspirants crave heroes (Karnataka Sports Dept). With 2026 polls looming, will Kumble’s star power lift Congress, or just spark a fleeting cheer?
