The Jumbo moment: Remembering Anil Kumble’s ‘perfect 10’ | Cricket News

Today is 20 years since India’s spin ace Anil Kumble snared his perfect 10 (10/74) against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

TOI recalls five defining moments of the former India skipper’s illustrious international career spanning 18 seasons.

Perfect 10 vs Pakistan, Delhi, 1999

On February 7, 1999 at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium, Kumble became the second bowler in the history of Test cricket after Jim Laker to capture all ten wickets in an innings. Set an improbable target of 420, Pakistan’s chances of drawing the match on the final day were utterly smashed by Kumble, who took 10/74 to guide India to a massive 212-run win against the arch-rivals.

Monkeygate vs Australia, Sydney, 2008

It was one of cricket’s biggest controversies, right up there with the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal. Harbhajan Singh was accused of passing racial comments against Australian Andrew Symonds during a heated stand-off in the second Test. While allegations and claims flew thick and fast, Kumble stood by Harbhajan in what has come to be seen as the highlight of his stint at the helm.

6/12 vs West Indies, Kolkata, 1993

Chasing 226, West Indies were in deep trouble at 63 for 4 in the final of the 1993 Hero Cup at the Eden Gardens. With Roland Holder and Carl Hooper at the crease, the visitors would have still fancied their chances, but Kumble ensured Windies unravelled in quick time. The spinner returned his best figures — 6 for 12 — in One-dayers to guide India to a commanding victory.

Broken jaw vs West Indies, Antigua, 2002

Kumble put country first, even if it meant playing with a broken jaw. A screaming bouncer from pacer Mervyn Dillon slipped through the visor of his helmet and struck Kumble on the jaw during the fourth Test in Antigua. Kumble spat blood, endured the pain of a fractured jaw and batted on. He returned the next day with a heavily strapped jaw to bowl 14 overs before returning home for surgery.

6/72 vs Pakistan, Multan, 2004

India began the historic Test series with an innings-and-52-run victory, courtesy Kumble’s decisive burst of 6 for 72 in the second innings. Although the Test match is best remembered for Virender Sehwag’s triple hundred, Kumble’s eight-wicket match haul was crucial in orchestrating India’s first Test win on Pakistan soil.

Maiden Test century vs England, London, 2007

Although India amassed a formidable 664 in the drawn third Test against England at The Oval, Kumble was the only Indian in a starstudded line-up that included Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Sourav Ganguly to score a century. The unbeaten 110 (193 balls, 217 minutes, 16×4, 1×6) remains his best Test score, and was the only hundred by an Indian batsman in the three-match series which the visitors won 1-0.