Name Hindi: अनिल कुंबले / Gender Man
Anil Kumble: Indian Cricket Legend
Born on October 17, 1970, in Bangalore, Karnataka, Anil Kumble is a former cricketer and captain of the Indian cricket team. A right-arm leg spinner, Kumble is acknowledged as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of cricket. Known for his aggressive style and strategic acumen, he has enthralled audiences worldwide with his spectacular performances.
Early Life and Career
Kumble’s interest in cricket began at an early age while he was studying at the National High School, Basavanagudi. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering before dedicating his life to cricket. His first critical success came when he represented India in the Austral-Asia Cup held in Sharjah in April 1990.
Spectacular Performances
- His most memorable performance remains taking all ten wickets (10/74) against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi in 1999 — only the second player to achieve this feat after England’s Jim Laker.
- In Adelaide (2004), against Australia, Kumble took five wickets twice resulting in victory for India – it was their first win on Australian ground since 1981.
- He surpassed Kapil Dev’s record of becoming the highest wicket-taker for India during West Indies tour (2006).
Career Success & Achievements
Anil Kumble leads the tally for India with 619 Test wickets and ranks third overall behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne. Amongst Indian bowlers who have taken more than 100 ODI wickets, he has the best average.
In his cricket career spanning almost two decades, he played a total of 132 test matches and 271 one-day international (ODI) matches. In Test cricket, Kumble took 619 wickets at an average of 29.65. This included an impressive statistic of forcing over eight percent of batsmen to get out for ‘leg before wicket’ (LBW) or ‘bowled’. In ODI cricket, Kumble captured 337 wickets averaging nearly 30 with an economy rate under five.
Post Retirement
Anil Kumble retired from all forms of International Cricket in November 2008 but continued contributing to Indian cricket. He signed on as the head coach for the national team, was Chairman of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and later became Head Coach of the Kings XI Punjab team in the IPL.
Note: All statistics are correct up until April 2021.
Legacy
His passion, perseverance, and precision continue to inspire aspiring sportspeople globally. Anil Kumble will always be remembered not just for his extraordinary achievements in cricket stadiums worldwide but also for his sustainably brilliant contribution towards developing cricketing culture within India — truly leaving a transformative impact on the sport.
