Anil Kumble Reminisces About His Ten-Wicket Haul Against Pakistan In 1999

On the 7th of February 1999, former Indian spin-bowler Anil Kumble became only the second bowler to take all ten wickets in an innings. It transpired at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi against arch-rivals Pakistan as India romped to a win by 212 runs. England’s Jim Laker was the first bowler to take ten wickets in an innings back in 1956 against Australia in Manchester.

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India were 0-1 down in the series; however, India’s ordinary batting performance in the second innings made it more challenging to square it. After managing 252 in the first innings, the hosts secured an 80-run lead and set Pakistan an improbable 420 to win for which Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi stitched a 101-run opening stand. Eventually, Anil Kumble’s time to create history came along in the fourth innings as the tourists had no answers to his leggies on a deteriorating track.

During an Instagram chat with Pommie Mbangwa, Anil Kumble recalled that historical game, saying after tea, as he got 7th, 8th, and 9th wicket, Javagal Srinath had the toughest time to bowl the next. To help Kumble achieve the feat, Srinath had to bowl all six deliveries wide. The former Indian Test captain was keen to get the final wicket in the next over as it was embarrassing for him to get Srinath to bowl another.

“After tea, I got 7, 8 and 9. And finished my over and Javagal Srinath had to bowl one, that was probably the toughest he had to bowl. He had to unlearn all his skills and bowl wide. But I didn’t ask him, believe me. I thought, ‘Let’s give Wasim a single.’ But I thought I had to get one that over, because it would have been embarrassing to ask one more. I was just destined. One down in a series, against Pakistan, just so special,” the Karnataka-born stated.

It’s like it’s happened yesterday for me: Anil Kumble

The 132-Test veteran conceded that the haul was special and it was pressurising since they had to win against Pakistan, who came after so long and was on the cusp of winning the series. Anil Kumble stated that he is very dangerous when the deck has uneven bounce and two-paced.

“It’s like it’s happened yesterday for me. It was special. It was pressure because Pakistan came to India after so long. We had to win at Kotla to square the series. I think I am most effective when the wicket is two-paced and there is uneven bounce,” he added.

The 49-year old went on to laud Pakistan for their bright start to the chase but admitted it was a matter of one wicket. As he began taking the wickets, Kumble got the motivation to pick one after the other even though he was getting tired.

“Till lunch, Pakistan had got off to a great start. I knew it was a matter of one wicket. After lunch, I changed ends. I got 1, then 2, and then it went on and on. I bowled non-stop from lunch to tea, but I was getting tired. I knew I had a great chance to better my previous best because I was six on six,”  Kumble concluded.

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