Former Indian leg-spinner and current head coach of the Indian cricket team, Anil Kumble, turned 46 on Monday.
"Jumbo", as Kumble is affectionately nicknamed, was only 19 when he made his Test debut back in 1990 at Old Trafford in Manchester and since then, went on to break and make records to become one of India’s finest spin bowlers of all time. One of his greatest moments was his "Perfect 10" where he returned with mind-boggling figures of 10/74 against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla. He is only the second player in the history of the game after Jim Laker to have achieved such a feat. Jumbo ended his 18-year career with 619 Test and 337 ODI wickets and has now donned the role of India's chief coach.
Making a ten-for look easy
On February 7, 1999 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Kumble became the second bowler in the history of Test cricket to bag ten wickets of an innings. Kumble ended with figures of 10/74 against arch rivals Pakistan in what went down as one of India’s greatest Test victories. No other bowler in Test cricket has managed to emulate Laker and Kumble's epic feat.
A bandaged Jumbo
Against West Indies at St John's in May 2002, Kumble took the field during the final session with a bandage over his fractured jaw after he was struck with the ball during his batting stint earlier. Kumble bowled a splendid spell of 14 overs in which he got the prize wicket of Brian Lara.
Partying at the Eden
Kumble was a master in the limited-overs format as well. On November 27, 1993 Kumble destroyed West Indies in the final of the Hero Cup at Eden Gardens, taking 6/12. India won by 102 runs and Kumble was declared the Man of the Match.