Seiko’s Bengaluru Chapter: Craft, Cricket, and Candour with Anil Kumble
On a balmy Bengaluru evening at Marks Square, conversations about time unfolded in more ways than one. The occasion was the opening of the Japanese watchmaker Seiko’s new flagship boutique in the city, marked by an intimate gathering of collectors, watch enthusiasts, and industry insiders, drawn together by a shared fascination for precision craft.
The standalone store marks a significant milestone in Seiko’s continued expansion in India, a market where collectors have shown a growing appreciation for lines such as King Seiko, Prospex, and Presage. The boutique also showcases iconic collections, including the Astron and the new 5 Sports, fine mechanical timepieces that underscore the depth of Japanese watchmaking craftsmanship.
But what made the evening memorable was not just the watches on display; it was the stories about time itself.
Among the guests was cricket legend Anil Kumble, whose career has long been defined by discipline, timing, and relentless precision — qualities equally revered in high watchmaking. In a candid conversation, the leg spinbowler slipped easily between cricketing anecdotes and reflections on technique, recounting lesser known moments from Indian cricket’s past.
Tryst with Horology
At one point, holding the Seiko Astron GPS Solar in his hands, Kumble paused to reflect on a memory that connected his personal history to the watch’s technology. He recalled how his father had once imagined a similar concept decades ago, long before satellite-linked watches existed. “This was probably 40 years ago,” he recalled. “My father had thought of this functionality and claimed that something like it could exist in a mechanical watch.” Back to today, when he actually witnessed the technology in real time, the moment felt like a full circle.
The watch is a striking example of horological ingenuity, connecting directly to GPS satellites to determine the wearer’s location. At the press of a button, it receives satellite signals and automatically adjusts to the correct time zone anywhere in the world. Powered by solar energy, it also eliminates the need for battery changes.
In Bengaluru, where distances are measured in time rather than kilometres, Kumble slowed the rhythm of the evening, regaling us with stories of cricket, camaraderie, and memories from a remarkable career.
Edited excerpts from the interview:
What remains the most memorable moment of your cricketing career?
One moment that will always stay with me is the Test match against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi on February 7, 1999. That day I was fortunate to take all 10 wickets in a single innings. It’s a moment that remains very special, not just for me personally but for Indian cricket as well. To be only the second bowler in the history of the game to achieve that feat is something I will always cherish.
Looking back, when did you feel the Indian team was truly ahead of its competitors?
It was during our Test victory in Perth back in 2007–08 tour of Australia. Australia had won 16 Test matches in a row and Perth was considered one of their strongest venues for they had never lost there before. For us to go there and beat them was incredibly special. It felt like a moment when the Indian team truly believed it could compete with, and beat, the very best in the world.
Tell us about the icon who had a great impact on you.
One of the biggest influences in my life and career has been B. S. Chandrasekhar. I first had the opportunity to train under him when I was about 15, and that experience left a lasting impression on me. Watching him closely, be it his technique, his discipline or the way he approached the game was incredibly inspiring. He was someone I always looked up to, and whenever I needed perspective or guidance in my career, he was someone I would go back to.
If you had to name one junior cricketer you truly looked up to, who would it be?
If I had to pick someone, it would have to be Sachin Tendulkar. Not necessarily in terms of seniority but in terms of the impact he had on the game and on all of us around him. Despite many of us retiring before him, he went on to become one of the greatest cricketers not just for India, but for the world. What stood out most about Sachin was his humility and his incredible work ethic. Talent alone never defined him.
He was always the first one at practice and the last one to leave. And this wasn’t just early in his career, it remained the same even after he had already achieved so much at the international level. What also made him special was the way he carried the expectations of an entire nation. Every time he walked out to bat, there were the hopes of a billion people on his shoulders. Yet he handled that pressure with remarkable grace. That combination of humility, commitment, and responsibility made him truly exceptional.
During a match, what did you rely on more: data about a batsman or your instinct in the moment?
I think data certainly helps you make better-informed decisions, but in the heat of the moment you also have to trust your instinct. Statistics can guide you, but they can’t replace the instinct you develop during the game. As a bowler, you’re constantly analysing a batsman, trying to identify his weaknesses, just as he is trying to figure out yours. It’s an ongoing contest of reading each other. Data can point you in a direction, but you also have to observe how a batsman is playing on that particular day.
In pressure situations, say when the opposition needs 10 runs off four balls, I used to focus on my strengths, stayed calm, and thought about how best to limit the batsman. At that point, it’s really about clarity of thought and backing the delivery you believe in.
If you had to choose three batsmen who troubled you the most, who would they be?
There were quite a few, probably more than three. In fact, I was fortunate that some of the toughest batsmen were in my own team, like Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, because facing them in the nets was never easy either.
But if I had to name a few from international cricket, Brian Lara would certainly be one. Then there was Steve Waugh, who was incredibly resilient, and Inzamam-ul-Haq, who had the ability to change the game very quickly. I would also add Sanath Jayasuriya to that list as he was particularly difficult because of the way he attacked from the start. None of them were easy to bowl to.
We’ve often seen you with a camera during matches, capturing moments on the field. Tell us a little about that.
Yes, it’s something I realised I was doing quite often. Many people would have noticed me with a camera, trying to capture special moments on the field. Whenever something significant was unfolding, say a batsman approaching a century or a key moment in the match, I would instinctively get ready to take a photograph.
Over time, it became a bit of a habit. I found it fascinating to document those moments from within the game itself. I usually didn’t try to capture the exact instant of someone hitting a shot or taking a wicket. Instead, I was more drawn to what followed ― the celebrations, the reactions, the emotions immediately after the moment. Memories that truly capture the pulse of the game.
When you think of Japanese excellence, what comes to mind?
A lot of things come to mind, actually. I’ve never been to Japan, but it’s a place I would truly love to visit. I’ve heard wonderful things about the country and about how welcoming the Japanese people are, especially towards Indians. One symbol that really stands out to me is the bullet train. Of course, most people think about its incredible speed, but what impresses me even more is the culture behind it, which is rooted in the respect for time and the precision of the entire process.
I’ve often heard that if a bullet train is even a few seconds late, it warrants a public apology. That says a lot about the value placed not just on efficiency, but on respecting people’s time. I think that commitment to precision and discipline is something we can all learn from.
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