Anil Kumble, a man of sheer determination and an astute knowledge has played the gentlemen’s game as a true gentleman. Mr. Kumble is known as a leg-spin bowler to the world and has represented the Indian cricket for 18 years. In this journey of long innings, he has won so many games for the country and most of the times, it was an upright ‘one-man show.’ He is one among those cricket greats who have glorified the beauty of Test cricket and is the only third bowler to take 600 test wickets after Muttaiah Muralidharan and Shane Warne. Kumble was a sagacious test cricketer and at the same time, he was an equally awe-inspiring ODI player too. The journey of Anil Kumble from a mediocre debut to 18 years of rich cricketing career is definitely an inspiring story to be told. Let us revisit and have a glance at the Cricket records by Anil Kumble which most of the times goes unpraised on the mainstream media.
Marvelous Records by Anil Kumble
Kumble takes 13/138 and makes a comeback to the Indian side in 1992
Anil Kumble made his first ODI and Test debut in the year 1990. He was not at his best in the series of games against Srilanka in the Sharjah followed by a series against Pakistan. He also went wicketless in the second innings against England in Manchester. Kumble then didn’t succeed to take a place in the squad for two long years.
Thereafter, he played in the domestic circuit and in an Irani Trophy against Delhi for Rest of India, Kumble picked 13/138 which eventually got him a place in the Indian side that toured South Africa and Zimbabwe. He never looked back and continued to strike. In a match against England, Kumble took 21 wickets in three Tests at an average of 19.8 and seven wickets for 165 runs in the third Test of the series to become a man of the match.
Kumble also becomes the fastest Indian bowler to reach his first 50 Test wickets. Later Ravichandran Ashwin surpassed him reaching the coup in nine matches.
Kumble is the Second Fastest Indian bowler to reach 100 Test wickets
Kumble reached his first 100 Wicket-haul in 21 Test matches, which was a record surpassed by Erapalli Prasanna in 20 matches. It was a time when Test cricket was at it’s best.
Second Bowler with a credit of 500 plus wickets and 2000 runs
Today, we have a good number of all-rounders but at those times, there were only few who made their mark both with bat and bowl. In this context, Anil Kumble is the second bowler to have scored 2000 runs and take 500 plus wickets only after Australia’s Shane Warne.
Highest Wicket taker for India
Anil Kumble’s 337 wickets in 271 ODIs is still an unbeatable glory. Jumbo also has 619 Test wickets in 132 games and stands third in the world after Muralidharan and Shane Warne.
Kumble is a 10 on 10 Player
How can one forget that day when Kumble picked all the 10 wickets in an innings? It was a match against arch-rival Pakistan played in Delhi on February 1999. Kumble strikes with 10 for 74 to become one of the two bowlers to have taken all the ten wickets in an innings (Other one being Jim Laker of England in 1956).
This performance was rated as the second-best ‘Bowling performance of all the time’ by Wisden and it was also commemorated by naming a circle in Bengaluru after Anil Kumble. Also, interestingly, a Car with the customized license plate; KA-10-N-10 was gifted to Kumble.
Most LBW and Caught & Bowled Dismissals
Jumbo is the only player to have the most number of Leg before dismissals (139) only before Shane Warne (138). Kumble also has the most caught & bowled dismissals too (35) in his 18-year-long career.
Highest Wicket taker in a Venue
Kumble took 56 wickets on the pitch of Sharjah Cricket Stadium and this is the highest by any player at a particular venue.
40850 balls in Tests
Kumble has bowled the maximum balls in Test cricket which is the second-highest only after M Muralidharan (44039 balls).
Kumble holds a unique World Record
On August 10, 2007, Kumble scored his maiden century (110 runs not out) against England. He took 118 Test matches, which is the highest by any player in the world. With this, Kumble surpassed Chaminda Vaas who took 96 tests to reach his maiden century.
Unsung Hero of 1996 Calendar Year
1996 was one of the best years’ of Kumble’s career. He became the leading wicket-taker in the calendar only after Shane Warne and McGrath with most wickets in Tests and ODIs combined.
The 1996 Titan Cup and the Breath-taking 9th Wicket Partnership
It was October 1996, India was playing against Australia for Titan Cup. In one of the matches, India was chasing 216 runs and when Tendulkar got out for 88, India was at 164/8. Then this happens- Kumble and Javagal Srinath duo put up 52 runs for 9th wicket partnership to win the match for India.
The Milestone of 600 Wickets
Kumble is the only player after Muralidharan and Shane Warne to take 600 Test wickets. It was 17th Jan 2008, the third Test against Australia at Perth. Kumble picked Andrew Symonds for a catch at first slip by Rahul Dravid to become the first Indian bowler and third in the world to reach the milestone of 600 Test wickets. It came in 124 matches at an average of 28.68.
Kumble is the only leg spinner to have become the captain of the team
Anil Kumble succeded Rahul Dravid in September 2007 to become the only leg spinner who has captained the team. Kumble’s first series as a captain was a three-match series against Pakistan won by India (1-0).
Anil Kumble is a Proud Padma Sri of India
Many more accolades and awards have come in search of Anil Kumble. Few of them are; Arjuna Award (1995), Wisden Cricketers of the year (1996), Padma Sri (2005), Best Breakthrough performance IPL 2009, ICC cricket hall of fame (2015) and many more man of the matches and man of the series.
These were the primary and most celebrated Cricket records by Anil Kumble. If you have anything to share about Kumble and his cricketing journey then please share with us in the comments below.
If you don’t want to miss our next Post then Like and Follow MetroSaga on Facebook and Instagram or simply download our Android App
You can also Subscribe to MetroSaga for newsletters.
