The Bangalore City Corporation was playing host to the local hero and Mayo Hall was abuzz on Saturday afternoon. There were former cricketers, councillors, their families and hordes of children jostling with each other for photo-ops and autographs. And Kumble was sporting enough not to mind the pushing around.

Mayor K H N Simha, who declared the renaming of Oriental Circle which is near the Chinnaswamy Stadium, vied with other corporators to stay close to the cricketer. Deputy Mayor Shahtaj Khanum was also there. Formalities over, veteran cricketers Brijesh Patel, Roger Binny and Sadanand Vishwanath made for the lunch table, and no one seemed to recognise them.

Kumble's parentsmade a quiet exit, but their son couldn't. For, the moment things looked like they were being wrapped up, Simha rushed to the dais: ``All corporators come up for a photograph with Kumble''. Everyone rushed, and Kumble was pushed to the edge of the frame.

Meanwhile, more goodies were heaped on Kumble. A gift of Rs 1 lakh from Devangere MP Shanmur Shivashankarappa. City Police Commissioner L Revanasiddaiah named Kumble Special Police Officer and handed over a sandalwood baton. Not to be left behind, Holy Saint Educational Institutions proudly announced to the media that the cricketer was ``their student''.

A bagful of presents