Anil Kumble

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India's main strike bowler of the 90s, Anil Kumble has taken upon the role of both stock bowler and shock bowler for many years now. Like his illustrious predecessor BS Chandrasekhar, he has frequently proved to be a match winner, especially on Indian wickets. On a turning track, Kumble can be pretty unplayable as he he uses the tricks up his sleeves to bamboozle the batsman. Kumble has never been a big spinner of the ball but his unerring accuracy make him a difficult bowler to handle. Kumble came into the side as a relatively unknown 19-year-old on the tour of England in 1990, was promptly forgotten for a couple of years, before making a comeback to the team on the basis of an outstanding Irani Trophy performance in 1992-93. Subsequently on the tour of South Africa he really came of age, a major turning point being his bag of six for 53 in the second Test at Johannesburg.

From that moment on he has never looked back and has been India's only real world-class spin bowler. Bowlers who have partnered him in the spin attack during the decade have long since departed from the scene but Kumble has carried on, picking up his usual quota of wickets both in Tests and one-day internationals. And at times he has come up with the unusual feats too, like his six for 12 in the Hero Cup final against West Indies in 1993-94 and his perfect ten for 74 against Pakistan at New Delhi in 1998-99. The latter feat made him only the second bowler in Test cricket, after Jim Laker for England against Australia at Old Trafford in 1956, to capture all ten wickets in a Test innings. Kumble reached the 300-wicket-mark in Test cricket at his home ground of Bangalore while playing against England. The frequent shoulder injury has somewhat taken the sting out of his bowling, but he still remains India's most potent weapon at home. Kumble did not have a successful tour of West Indies, but the very image of a heavily bandaged Kumble with a broken jaw coming out and then claiming the wicket of Brian Lara will remain etched in the memory of millions of his fans worldwide.