Nirdesh Baisoya Emulates Anil Kumble's Historic Feat By Taking 10 Wickets In An Innings

Who would have thought that someone would emulate Anil Kumble’s historic feat of taking 10 wickets in an innings? Meghalaya off-spinner Nirdesh Baisoya scripted history as he emulated Anil Kumble’s achievement when he claimed 10 wickets for Meghalaya against Nagaland in the first innings of a U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy fixture.

It was actually 20 years ago when legendary spinner Anil Kumble took the cricket fraternity by storm as he went on to become the second bowler in the history of cricket after England’s Jim Laker to bag 10 wickets in an innings (2nd innings) in an international Test match against Australia on July 31, 1956. Anil Kumble clinched the rare feat in the 2nd Test against Pakistan at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi, as he helped his team to a win by 212 runs.

10 wickets, 10 maidens for Nirdesh Baisoya

Hailing from Meerut, Baisoya plays for Meghalaya as a guest player and chipped in with fantastic bowling figures of 10/51 in 21 overs with as many as 10 maidens to his name bundling out Nagaland for a paltry 113 on Day 1.

“It’s yet to sink in. I was not born when Anil Kumble picked up 10 wickets, but I heard a lot about it. I always wanted to do something like that, never thought it would happen so early in my life. I just spoke to my parents and they became emotional as well,” Meghalaya off-spinner told news agency IANS in an interview.

“I had picked six wickets by the first session. That is when I started to believe that I can go for all 10. My teammates backed me a lot. There was turn on the pitch since morning and the overhead conditions also helped,” he added.

Baisoya’s recent performances prove that his 10-wicket-haul is no fluke. This is his second season in the U-16 Vijay Merchant Trophy and he already has picked 27 wickets in his kitty from just four matches. Last time, he picked 33 wickets from six matches.

“It was a dream come true for me and I never expected this. I have to keep working hard as I have a long way to go,” the 15-year-old said. “I want to make my family, sisters, brothers and parents proud,” he added.