Anil Kumble's 10-Wicket Innings: The Greatest Bowling Feat in Test History
How Anil Kumble took all 10 wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan at Delhi in 1999 — only the second time in Test history, the conditions, the spell, and what made it extraordinary.
On 7 February 1999 at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi, Anil Kumble became only the second bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in a single innings, dismissing every Pakistan batter in their second innings for 74 runs. Kumble's figures of 10/74 matched Jim Laker's 10/53 against Australia in 1956 — and had not been replicated since. The achievement was built on persistence, intelligence, and a batting-friendly surface that somehow yielded to Kumble's relentless accuracy.
The Match Context
India and Pakistan were playing their first Test series in 12 years. The Delhi Test was the second match of the series, with India needing a win to level the series after losing at Chennai. Pakistan's first innings set 286; India replied with 252, giving Pakistan a 34-run lead. In their second innings, Pakistan collapsed to 207 all out — with Kumble responsible for all 10 dismissals. India then chased 420 to win but fell short at 348/9, drawing the match. The draw meant Pakistan won the series 1-0, but Kumble's bowling remained the defining moment of the contest.
The Spell Itself
- Kumble bowled 26.3 overs in the second innings — more than any other Indian bowler on that day.
- His 10 wickets came via: caught 5, bowled 3, lbw 2. The variety showed he wasn't bowling to one mode of dismissal.
- The pitch was dry and turning, but not dramatically so — Pakistan's top order had batted reasonably well in the first innings.
- Kumble's dismissals included Saeed Anwar (caught 1b Mongia), Shahid Afridi (bowled), Inzamam-ul-Haq (lbw), and Wasim Akram (lbw) — spanning all levels of the batting order.
- The 10th wicket — Wasim Akram — was taken with Kumble bowling with a split lip after being hit in the face by a ball from Srinath in the outfield.
Frequently asked questions
Who has taken 10 wickets in a Test innings?
Only two bowlers have taken all 10 wickets in a single Test innings in cricket history: Jim Laker (10/53 for England vs Australia, Old Trafford 1956) and Anil Kumble (10/74 for India vs Pakistan, Delhi 1999). No other bowler has achieved this feat in over 2,500 Test matches played across more than 140 years of Test cricket.
What was special about Anil Kumble as a leg-spinner?
Anil Kumble was atypical as a leg-spinner — he relied less on big turn and more on pace, accuracy, and the arm ball (a delivery that goes straight on without turning). While classic leg-spinners like Shane Warne used flight and drift to beat batters in the air, Kumble skidded the ball through on a flatter trajectory at medium pace, using the crease extensively. His 619 Test wickets (second only to Muttiah Muralitharan in spinners) were built on volume, fitness, and relentlessness rather than extravagant spin.
Did India win the match when Kumble took 10 wickets?
No — India did not win the match. Despite Kumble dismissing all 10 Pakistan batters in their second innings for 74 runs, India were set 420 to win and fell short at 348/9, drawing the match. Pakistan won the two-Test series 1-0 (having won the first Test in Chennai). The draw meant Kumble's 10-wicket spell, extraordinary as it was, could not deliver a series-levelling result.