Anil Kumble: 10 Wickets in a Test Innings and India's Greatest Spinner
Anil Kumble's 619 Test wickets make him the third highest wicket-taker in history, but his most famous achievement is taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan in 1999 — only the second bowler in history to achieve this feat.
Anil Kumble was never a conventional leg spinner. He spun the ball less than Shane Warne, bowled flatter and faster, and relied more on pace through the air and leg-stump accuracy than the dramatic turn of traditional wrist spin. Yet he took 619 Test wickets — more than any other Indian bowler — and produced one of cricket's most celebrated single performances: all 10 Pakistan wickets in a Test innings at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.
The 10 Wicket Innings
On 7 February 1999, Anil Kumble took all 10 Pakistan wickets in the second innings at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla. The final analysis: 10 for 74. It is only the second time in Test history this has been achieved — Jim Laker took 10/53 for England against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956. Kumble took three wickets in the first six overs of the innings and never looked back. The crowd, initially hopeful, became ecstatic as each wicket fell.
The Technical Master
Kumble's bowling was built on accuracy rather than turn. He bowled the conventional leg break, the top spinner, and used over-spin to make the ball skid on rather than bounce. On good batting pitches he was more difficult to play than turn-centric spinners because the batsman could not rely on the ball turning away as much as predicted. On turning pitches, he was virtually unplayable.
619 Test Wickets
Kumble's 619 Test wickets place him third in the all-time list behind only Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). He played in 132 Tests, averaging a wicket every 29.65 runs — a figure that compares very favourably with other great spinners. He was particularly effective in the West Indies in 2001-02, taking 32 wickets in a series win.
Captain and Coach
Kumble captained India in 14 Tests, leading with the same methodical intelligence that characterised his bowling. He later served as India's head coach from 2016 to 2017, a tenure that ended in a reported conflict with Virat Kohli. His coaching tenure was brief but his influence on India's bowling culture — built on attacking leg spin and relentless accuracy — continued through the players he worked with.
Frequently asked questions
How many wickets did Anil Kumble take in his famous Test innings?
All 10 — 10 for 74 against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999, making him only the second bowler in history after Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.
What is Anil Kumble's total Test wicket count?
619 wickets in 132 Tests — the third-highest wicket tally in Test history behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708).
What type of bowler was Anil Kumble?
A leg-break bowler who bowled flatter and faster than traditional wrist spinners, relying on accuracy and skidding pace-through-the-air rather than dramatic turn.