Anil Kumble's 10 Wickets: The Rarest Feat in Test Cricket
The story of Anil Kumble's 10/74 against Pakistan in Delhi 1999 — only the second time in 140 years of Test cricket that a bowler has taken all 10 wickets in a single innings, and the context that made it extraordinary.
On February 7, 1999, Anil Kumble became only the second bowler in 122 years of Test cricket to take all 10 wickets in a single innings. Bowling in Delhi against Pakistan, Kumble finished with figures of 10 wickets for 74 runs — a performance that stands as the second instance of this feat after Jim Laker's 10/53 for England against Australia in 1956. Unlike Laker, who operated on a pitch specifically prepared for spin, Kumble achieved his feat on a relatively benign Delhi surface.
The Match Context
The Delhi Test was the second match of a historic bilateral series between India and Pakistan — the first time Pakistan had toured India in 12 years. The match was tense with both political and cricketing significance. India had batted first and set Pakistan a challenging target. In Pakistan's second innings, facing that target, Kumble bowled unchanged from one end and dismissed every Pakistan batsman — some with sharp turn, some with the top-spinner, and some through sheer pressure. His final wicket, Wasim Akram, produced scenes of extraordinary celebration.
Context in Kumble's Career
- Kumble finished his Test career with 619 wickets in 132 Tests at 29.65 — the third-most wickets in Test history, behind only Muralitharan (800) and Warne (708).
- Unlike many leg-spinners, Kumble bowled relatively flat and fast, relying on accuracy and bounce rather than extravagant turn. He was sometimes described as an 'over-spinner' rather than a conventional wrist-spinner.
- He also scored 2,506 Test runs, making him one of the most valuable lower-order batsmen in India's Test history.
- Kumble later served as India head coach (2016-2017) before resigning after a reported rift with captain Virat Kohli.
Frequently asked questions
Who has taken 10 wickets in a Test innings?
Only two bowlers in the history of Test cricket have taken all 10 wickets in a single innings: Jim Laker (10/53 for England against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956) and Anil Kumble (10/74 for India against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999). Both feats are separated by 43 years, and no bowler has achieved it since. Laker also took 9/37 in the same match's first innings, giving him 19/90 in the match — also a record.
How many Test wickets did Anil Kumble take?
Anil Kumble took 619 Test wickets in 132 Tests at an average of 29.65. This is the third-most wickets in Test history, behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708). Kumble was the leading wicket-taker in Tests for India and the most successful Indian bowler in the history of the format.