Anil Kumble, India’s legendary leg-spinner, holds the record for the most Test wickets by an Indian bowler with 619 wickets in a career that spanned from 1990 to 2008. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history.
Debut: 9 August 1990 vs England (Manchester)
Last Test: 29 October 2008 vs Australia (Delhi)
Matches Played: 132
Wickets Taken: 619
Best Bowling Figures (Innings): 10/74 vs Pakistan (1999, Delhi)
Best Bowling Figures (Match): 14/149 vs Pakistan (1999, Delhi)
Five-Wicket Hauls: 35
Ten-Wicket Hauls: 8
Bowling Average: 29.65
Economy Rate: 2.69
Strike Rate: 65.9
Only behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708).
Only the second bowler in history to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings:
10/74 vs Pakistan in 1999 (Delhi) – second only to Jim Laker’s 10/53 (1956).
Most Test Wickets by an Indian Bowler (619):
The highest by any Indian and far ahead of Kapil Dev (434) & R. Ashwin (currently active) First Indian bowler to reach 600 Test wickets:
Achieved the milestone against Australia in 2008. India’s highest wicket-taker in home Tests (350 wickets in India).
Captained India in Test cricket (2007-2008).
Became only the second bowler in history to take all 10 wickets in an innings.
India won the match by 212 runs.
His best match figures in Test cricket.
Despite his brilliance, India couldn’t win, but Kumble was the standout performer.
Best bowling figures by an Indian in an ODI final.
Retired from international cricket on 2 November 2008 after the Delhi Test against Australia.
Served as India’s head coach from 2016-2017.
Inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2015.
A highly respected figure in Indian cricket for his sportsmanship, leadership, and contribution to the game.
Anil Kumble remains India’s greatest match-winner with the ball in Tests, inspiring future generations of spinners like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
