Anil Kumble's cherished passion revealed

Legendary Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble released a rare coffee table book called Wide Angle - Candid moments from my playing days'.

The book is a collection of photographs clicked by Kumble during his playing days.

Wide Angle was launched by Kumble and Australian spin legend Shane Warne on Wednesday.

Referring to Kumble as a gentleman, Warne said, "He is a rare combination of a gentleman and a fierce competitor and one of the jewels of the sport."

Wide Angle contains personal experiences of one of the toughest men to have graced the game, his unique take on men and matters subtly woven around stories in the dressing room, stories on tour and the sheer joy of capturing moments in history.

The book, presented by Royal Challengers Bangalore, is an amalgamation of Kumble's abiding passions -- cricket, photography and wildlife.

In the foreword, Sachin Tendulkar spills the beans about Kumble, the man behind the camera.

Tendulkar elaborates that Kumble would joke with his team-mates in the dressing room saying, 'As long as I am in the team, you will have no privacy.'

Says Dr Vijay Mallya, chairman, UB Group and owner of Royal Challengers Bangalore: "Anil's eye for detail, grit and meticulous planning have led him to take on any challenges be it on-field or off it. Wide Angle is a precious coming together of this unique game changing ability. We are proud of his leadership for Royal Challengers."

With a camera in hand, Kumble began to paint pictures as a teenager to stop a "good moment from running away".

Wide Angle is a repository of memories, intense, casual and celebratory, caught through the lenses of his Canon camera.

"This book will give you some insight into what happens in a cricketer's life outside of the game itself," Kumble said.

Warne had many more kind words about Kumble.

"The one stand-out thing about Anil for me is that he has a big heart. He is a giver, a hundred per cent team man, a man with a real big heart. Committed hundred per cent, he has always held his head high with his performances," said the Rajasthan Royals skipper.

"For all the youngsters and many more, Anil is the role model, the way he conducts himself on and off the field. It is not just talent, but passion and love for the game that has seen Anil play the game for 20 years, and that proves he has a big heart," Warne added.