Anil Kumble and Rahul Dravid have shared many a memorable moment together © Getty Images

Rahul Dravid - Team-mate and captain.

It's been an honour and a privilege to play cricket with Anil. The one big memory from one-day cricket, though I wasn't part of it, was his 6 for 12 in the final of the Hero Cup. He's always been a very strong presence in the team. Even though he may not have played as much one-day cricket in the last few years his contribution has been exemplary and a great help to me and the team. I cherish the fact that he's been a great colleague, a great friend and a great cricketer. I've learnt from him the intensity and the hunger to keep improving and play to your optimum level without any fuss or unnecessary shows of emotion, and to just go about doing your job quietly, sincerely and to the best of your ability. He's done that with class over so many years.

In some ways it feels odd to talk about him in a retirement mode because he's still going to be around in Test cricket. In some ways I don't see it as that he's not going to be there. He's still going to be around for some time.

Javagal Srinath - Team-mate and erstwhile hunting partner

There were a lot of things we shared and had in common. We come from similar backgrounds. There was a lot I learnt from Anil, to be honest about it. Be it a flat wicket, be it a turner, whether the batsmen are playing well or not ... whether it was a top-order batsman or a tailender, his attitude to bowling was something else. His ferocious way of attacking the batsman is something I haven't seen in a fast bowler even. I always thought, "if a spinner can have that attitude, then why not me?" when I was fielding as he bowled. I always looked up to such qualities and seen how I myself can benefit from a similar approach.

The wickets he has taken, how many ever they are, they suggest something, but it's not everything. He created pressure from one end and the bowler at the other end could pick up wickets. Just the numbers cannot give you the true picture. Anil has done more than what the numbers suggest. There's more hidden in his performance. What people need to appreciate is the number of games he has won for India.

Sunil Joshi - Team-mate, Under-19s, Karnataka and India.

Bowling with Anil is always fantastic. We played together and matured together. He was so focussed and always had that urge to do well, for himself, for the team, for the state and for the country. I've learned so much from bowling with him. He kept telling me where to improve. Whenever I bowled well, I had no pressure. The pressure was on Anil as a senior bowler. Just last year, when we played together for Karnataka against Delhi, it was great, because the pressure was on him and in the end I came out successful. He takes all the pressure and in the bargain the other guy gets wickets.

I'd like to share a moment from our tour of West Indies in 1997. When we were bowling to Brian Lara together in Trinidad Anil came to me and said, "don't worry Joey, if he's trying to attack you that's a good sign." At the other end he couldn't attack because Anil was bowling. Ultimately I got Lara, and again later in the series.

Whoever criticises Anil, there's no need to respond. His record speaks for itself. When we went to Australia last, people from our own fraternity said that Anil was a mere traveler in the team. Anil came back with a bang and we won. He balances cricket, pressure, family, everything ... that's why he is great.