Anil Kumble is probably the best leg-spinner that India produced in the game of cricket. He was one of its kind who earned immense success despite not having much turn in his armoury. He made his debut for India in 1990 and played for 18 years until 2008. In his international career, he achieved almost all the Indian records and retired as the legend of the game.
Kumble was the only Indian bowler after Kapil Dev to take 400 or more Test wickets, while he became the first Indian to take 500 and 600 wickets in Test cricket. There aren’t many bowlers who bowled 70 or more overs in a single test innings, and also not many who dared to play with a broken jaw and performed for the country. On his 54th birthday, we will discuss some amazing facts and top ten records about India’s greatest leg-spinner.
Some amazing facts about Anil Kumble
- Anil Kumble is one of those cricketers who had a strong educational background. He has a B.E. degree in mechanical engineering from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering.
- Kumble earned the nickname “Jumbo” because of his big feet.
- At the age of 13, he joined the Young Cricketers club.
- In 1989, Kumble made his debut on the domestic circuit at the age of 19 for Karnataka.
- Kumble was rewarded with the Arjuna Award in 1995.
- He was the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1996.
- Kumble was rewarded with the prestigious award “Padma Shri” in 2005.
Happy Birthday Anil Kumble: Top Ten Spectacular Records for Indian Legend
1. Most Balls bowled in Tests
Anil Kumble holds the Indian record for bowling most balls in the longest format of the game. He has bowled 40850 deliveries in his 132-match test career between 1990 and 2008. After Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralidaran, this is the second-most in Test cricket.
2. Best Bowling Figure in a Test Inning
In 1999, Anil Kumble became the first Indian and only second bowler after Jim Laker to capture all ten wickets in a test innings. He did it against archrival Pakistan in Delhi. Kumble registered a bowling figure of 10/74 in 26.3 overs. This is the second-best bowling figure in the Test inning.
3. Fastest to 600 Test Wickets
Anil Kumble holds the Indian record of the fastest to 600 Test wickets. He reached this big milestone in his 124th test, going past Shane Warne’s record of 126 tests. Overall, Kumble is the second-fastest in history after Muralidaran, who took 101 test matches.
4. Best Bowling Figure by an Indian spinner in ODIs
Not just in Test cricket, Kumble has taken most wickets for India in the 50-over format as well. He has 337 ODI wickets with a best of 6/12. He took his best ODI figure against West Indies at Eden Gardens in 1993 in the Hero Cup final. This is the best bowling figure in ODI cricket by an Indian spinner.
5. Most wickets taken by LBW in Test
Anil Kumble didn’t turn the ball along the way, but his strength was his tight line and length. The leg-spinner used to bowl fast and at the wickets, which is why he holds the record for the most wickets taken by the LBW method. Kumble took 156 wickets in tests by the LBW method, which indicates how tight he was.
6. Most wickets taken caught and bowled in Tests
Kumble was faster than other spinners in his era, and his speed was one of his strengths. That was the reason; it was not easy to hit him straight down the ground. batters trying to hit him down the ground usually mistimed and were caught by him. Kumble has taken 35 wickets by caught and bowled method in the test, which is the joint-most by a bowler in the longest format.
7. Most Wickets for India in International Cricket
Kumble holds the record for the most wickets in international cricket by an Indian. He played cricket pre-T20 era. Kumble represented India in 403 matches across formats. He took a total of 956 wickets with 37 fifers and 8 ten-wicket hauls. This is the most by an Indian and fourth-most overall in history.
8. Oldest Indian to score a Test hundred
Kumble was a brilliant bowler, but he had some good game-changing moments with the bat. Kumble is the only player to score an international century with 950+ international wickets. His century came in a test against England at the Oval in August 2007. With that, he became the oldest Indian player to score a test hundred at the age of 36 years and 296 days.
9. Most wickets taken stumped by Indian
Anil Kumble was fast, which is why he deceived the batter, who wanted to hit him for big shots. That is where stump came into play. Kumble holds the Indian record for most wickets taken by stumped. He took 24 wickets in this dismissal mode.
10. Most Wickets in a Calendar Year by Indian in ODIs
Anil Kumble also holds the record for most wickets taken in a single year in the 50-over format by an Indian bowler. In 1996, he took 61 wickets in 32 ODIs at an average of 20.24 and an economy rate of 4.06. Interestingly, he didn’t take a single fifer, and his best was 4/12.
