Happy Birthday Anil Kumble: Legendary Cricketer's Career, Top Spells, and Records

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANIL KUMBLE: It is Anil Kumble’s birthday. The legendary cricketer turns 53. Be it in ODIs or Tests, Anil Kumble was always a name of trust for the Indian cricket team during his playing days. When Kumble first appeared in the international circuit, his ability to spin the ball was not enough to impress the cricket fraternity. But it was his grit and competitiveness that set Kumble apart from other spinners.

Despite following the textbook theories, Kumble customised them on his own. His uncanny googlies or loopy yorkers with some considerable pace brought tremendous success, especially on foreign soil.

After failing his first few international assignments, the breakthrough came when Kumble grabbed a 13-wicket haul for the Rest of India in the 1992 Irani trophy season-opener.

The performance paved the way for Anil Kumble to earn a call-up for the twin tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe. He made the most out of the opportunity, picking 18 wickets in four Tests against the Proteas, while the conditions were far from being spin-friendly.

Since then, there was no turning back for Kumble, who represented India in 132 Tests and featured in 271 ODIs. With 956 scalps under his belt, Kumble is still the fourth-highest wicket-taker in history.

Before Team India could welcome MS Dhoni as the new captain, Kumble served the leadership responsibility for a brief period following Rahul Dravid in 2007.

Today, on October 17, Anil Kumble celebrates his 53rd birthday. On this special occasion, let’s take a look at some of his best spells across all formats:

Anil Kumble’s Best Spells Across All Formats

1. 8-141 & 4-138 vs Australia, 2004 (Test)Anil Kumble recorded his best overseas bowling figure in a match where two legendary batters- Sanchin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman racked up a 353-run partnership. Though it was looking like a game of the batters, Kumble altered the equation with his mystic spells. He took eight wickets in Australia’s first innings before fetching a four-fer in the second innings. The match, however, found no winner.
2. 6-12 vs West Indies, 1993 (ODI)Anil Kumble produced the best bowling figure by any Indian spinner during a 1993 ODI against the West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Bowling 6.1 overs, Kumble gave away only 12 runs, while claiming a 6-wicket haul. He ripped through the opposition middle order and bowled them out for 123 runs, with India registering a commanding 102-run victory.
3. 5-5 vs Rajasthan Royals, 2009 (IPL T20)Anil Kumble represented Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first three editions of the IPL. During the 2009 campaign in South Africa, Kumble put up an enthralling show against Rajasthan Royals to grab the most economical five-wicket haul in the history of the franchise tournament. He gave away only 5 runs in his 3.1-over spell, which included one maiden as well.

Records and Achievements

• Anil Kumble is only the second bowler in history after England’s Jim Laker to claim 10 wickets in a Test innings. He achieved the feat during a Delhi Test against Pakistan in 1999.
• He is also the most decorated Test bowler in the history of Indian cricket with 619 wickets.
• Kumble holds the same record in the 50-over format as well with 334 ODI wickets.
• He took 61 ODI wickets in 1996 and this number is the most by any Indian bowler in a calendar year.
• Kumble has bowled a total of 40,850 deliveries during his illustrious Test career which is the second highest in history after Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan.