Profile: Anil Kumble

The only bowler alongside Jim Laker to take all ten wickets in an innings, Anil Kumble stands third on the all-time list of most prolific bowlers in Test Matches. He is currently India’s Test captain.

After making his first class debut in the 1989-90 season, Kumble quickly tasted success, making his Test debut in August 1990 versus England. He took his first 50 wickets in just ten matches, the fastest in which an Indian bowler achieved that milestone, and took his hundredth in just his 21st match.

Alongside Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumble was the third component of the spin revolution of the 1990s that revitalised slow bowling as an attacking option after the dominance of pace in the 1970s and 1980s. His greatest bowling feat came against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999 when he took 10-74. In the final test of the 2007 series against England, Kumble finally scored his maiden Test century, thereby becoming the only man to score a Test hundred and take all ten wickets in an innings. To emphasise his all-round abilities, during the same match he also took his 900th international wicket. His 118-game wait for his hundred meant he broke Chaminda Vaas’ record of 96 tests before scoring a Test century.

Kumble retired from One Day Internationals in 2007, but not before establishing himself as India’s most successful bowler in that form of the game, with 337 wickets and the Indian best return of 6-12.
In 2007 Kumble was made Indian captain for the series against Pakistan and promptly led India to its first home series win against Pakistan for 27 years.
He has spoken of the need to educate players how to handle the modern game’s celebrity and wealth.