Sporting legends : Anil Kumble - Great Indian leg spinner , his achievements & video

 

Anil Kumble: Introduction, Style of Play, Records, Career Highlights, and Legacy

Full Name: Anil Radhakrishna Kumble

Date of Birth: October 17, 1970

Place of Birth: Bangalore, Karnataka, India

Role: Bowler, Right-arm leg-spin

Batting Style: Right-handed

Bowling Style: Right-arm leg break (with a focus on fast, flipper-like deliveries)

Introduction

Anil Kumble is one of the greatest cricketers India has ever produced, primarily known for his remarkable achievements as a bowler. Born on October 17, 1970, in Bangalore, Kumble became the highest wicket-taker for India in both Test and One Day Internationals (ODIs). His outstanding leg-spin bowling, his precision, and consistency made him a cricketing legend. Kumble’s ability to bowl long spells and extract bounce and turn on various surfaces has made him one of the most successful spinners in the history of the game.

Style of Play

Bowling Style: Kumble was not a traditional leg-spinner known for large amounts of turn. Instead, his style relied heavily on accuracy, variations in speed, and bounce. He often bowled at a faster pace than other leg-spinners, which gave him an edge, particularly on Indian pitches where the ball would zip through. His signature deliveries included:

The flipper: A quicker, skidding ball that would deceive batsmen expecting turn.

Fast topspinners and googlies, which kept batsmen guessing. Kumble’s approach allowed him to maintain pressure on batsmen by building up dot balls and forcing mistakes. His ability to outthink batsmen was a hallmark of his success, and his accuracy allowed him to dominate in both home and away conditions.

Batting Style: Though primarily known for his bowling, Kumble was a capable lower-order batsman. A right-handed batsman, Kumble showed resilience with the bat and could hold the tail together in tough situations. He has scored valuable runs for India, including a famous century against England in 2007, showcasing his grit and determination.

Mental Toughness: Kumble was renowned for his mental toughness and never-say-die attitude on the field, which earned him the nickname "Jumbo."

Records and Statistics

Test Record:

Matches: 132

Wickets: 619 wickets at an average of 29.65

Best Bowling: 10/74 (against Pakistan, 1999, Delhi)

10-Wicket Hauls: 8

5-Wicket Hauls: 35

Runs Scored: 2,506 runs

Highest Score: 110* (against England, 2007)

ODI Record:

Matches: 271

Wickets: 337 wickets at an average of 30.89

Best Bowling: 6/12 (against West Indies, 1993)

Economy Rate: 4.30

Runs Scored: 938 runs

Highest Score: 26

T20I Record: Anil Kumble did not play many T20 Internationals during his career, as the format was introduced towards the tail end of his playing days.

First-Class Career: Kumble played 244 first-class matches, taking 1,136 wickets at an average of 26.36, including 86 five-wicket hauls. His contributions in domestic cricket, especially for Karnataka, were vital in shaping his international career.

IPL Career: Kumble played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) primarily for the Royal Challengers Bangalore. In the 2009 edition, he led RCB to the final and bowled impressively throughout the tournament. His standout performance was a 5-wicket haul against Rajasthan Royals, where he took 5/5 in 3.1 overs.

Matches: 42

Wickets: 45

Best Bowling: 5/5

Kumble’s leadership in the IPL was lauded, and he later served as a mentor for various franchises.

Career Highlights

10/74 vs. Pakistan (1999): Kumble’s most famous achievement came against Pakistan in 1999 when he became only the second bowler in the history of Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in an innings. His historic figures of 10/74 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi remain one of the most remarkable feats in cricket.

619 Test Wickets: Kumble is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, behind only Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. His 619 wickets came over a 17-year career, making him India’s most prolific bowler in Test cricket.

5/12 vs. West Indies (1993): In the Hero Cup final, Kumble produced one of the best spells in ODI cricket, taking 6/12 to dismantle the West Indies and guide India to victory. This remains one of the best bowling performances in limited-overs cricket.

Captaining India: Kumble was appointed captain of India in 2007, and although his tenure was brief, he was respected for his leadership and strategic acumen. He led India to a memorable Test series win against Pakistan in 2007 and helped the team fight hard in  a tough series against Australia in Australia from 0-2 down with a first ever win at Perth  and handled the " monkeygate" controversy involving  Harbhajan Singh & Andrew Symonds in that series with great wisdom , maturity & tactfulness to diffuse the tense environment between the teams. 

Century at The Oval (2007): Known for his fighting spirit, Kumble scored his maiden and only Test century against England at The Oval in 2007. His unbeaten 110 showcased his resilience and ability to contribute as a lower-order batsman.

Great Bowling Spells

1. 10/74 vs. Pakistan (1999): One of the greatest feats in cricket history, where Kumble took all 10 wickets in an innings, joining England's Jim Laker as the only other bowler to achieve the feat.

2. 6/12 vs. West Indies (1993, Hero Cup): Kumble's spell in the Hero Cup final decimated the West Indian batting line-up and was key in India’s victory.

3. 5/84 & 4/106 vs. Australia (2004, Sydney): In a historic series win against Australia in Australia, Kumble’s match haul of 9 wickets helped India draw the final Test, which led to one of India’s best overseas series performances.

Legacy

Anil Kumble is universally regarded as one of the finest leg-spinners in the history of cricket. He transformed the role of a leg-spinner by relying more on bounce, accuracy, and variations in pace rather than traditional big turning deliveries. His ability to perform on any pitch and in all conditions made him India’s go-to bowler for many years.

Beyond his bowling, Kumble’s leadership, both as a captain and a senior figure in the team, earned him immense respect. His commitment to the team, his ability to perform in pressure situations, and his resilience through injuries (such as bowling with a broken jaw against the West Indies in 2002) are qualities that have defined his career.

Kumble's legacy extends beyond his playing days, as he served as the head coach of the Indian cricket team, contributing to the team's growth during his tenure. He remains an influential figure in cricket administration and commentary, and his contributions to Indian cricket will always be remembered.

In the below video , watch Anil Kumble decimate Pakistan with his famous 10 wicket haul in an innings in 1999 at New Delhi.