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Home  » Cricket » The rise and rise of Anil Kumble

The rise and rise of Anil Kumble

By Rajneesh Gupta
December 11, 2004 17:29 IST
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Ace leg spinner Anil Kumble created history on Friday by surpassing Kapil Dev's decade-old record of 434 wickets to become the highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket.

The 34-year-old Kumble achieved the feat when he had Muhammad Rafique trapped leg before wicket on the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at the Bangabandhu Stadium at Dhaka.

Here is a detailed statistical look at Kumble's impressive bowling career.

Known as: Anil Kumble
Born: 17 October 1970, Bangalore
Type: Right-hand lower order batsman and right-arm leg-break googly bowler
Teams: Karnataka (1989/90-1999/00), India (1990-2004/05),Northamptonshire (1995) & Leicestershire (2000)
First-Class Debut: Karnataka v Hyderabad (Ranji Trophy) at Secunderabad in 1989-90
Test Debut: v England at Manchester in 1990
Best Bowling in an innings: 10-74 v Pakistan at Delhi in 1998-99
Best Bowling in a Test: 14-149 v Pakistan at Delhi in 1998-99
Best Bowling in a series: 27 wickets (in 4 Tests) v Australia in 2004-05 (in India)

  • Performance against each country
  • This is how Kumble got his wickets
  • Kumble's bunnies
  • Kumble in each calendar year
  • Kumble in each country
  • Kumble in each series
  • Batting positions of victims
  • Batting styles of victims
  • Runs scored by victims
  • Wickets per innings
  • Performance result-wise
  • Performance under different captains
  • 5 or more wickets in an innings (28)
  • 10 or more wickets in a match (6)
  • Kumble v Kapil (Match by match)
  • Kumble v Kapil (Tests taken to reach each progressive milestone of 50 wickets)
  • Top 10 Indian bowlers
  • Ahead of Kumble in all Test cricket

    Performance against each country:

    Opponent Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave Best 5WI 10M SR ER
    Australia 14 4836 2391 88 27.17 8-141 9 2 54.95 49.44
    South Africa 16 5438 2084 66 31.58 6-53 3 - 82.39 38.32
    England 13 4370 1864 62 30.06 7-115 3 1 70.48 42.65
    West Indies 13 3354 1546 51 30.31 5-30 3 - 65.76 46.09
    New Zealand 11 3610 1293 50 25.86 6-67 3 1 72.20 35.82
    Sri Lanka 12 3533 1535 46 33.37 7-59 2 1 76.80 43.45
    Pakistan 6 1648 840 37 22.70 10-74 3 1 44.54 50.97
    Zimbabwe 5 1885 674 34 19.82 5-63 2 - 55.44 35.76
    Bangladesh 1 83 45 2 22.50 2-45 - - 41.50 54.21
    TOTAL 91 28757 12272 436 28.14 10-74 28 6 65.95 42.67

    This is how Kumble got his wickets

    Mode of Dismissal Home Away TOTAL
    Bowled 38 25 63
    Caught in the field 131 84 215
    Caught by keeper 17 5 22
    Caught & bowled 14 9 23
    Stumped 5 7 12
    LBW 67 34 101
    TOTAL 272 164 436

    Kumble's bunnies

    Aravinda de Silva (SL) 7 times
    Roshan Mahanama (SL) 7 times
    Andrew Hudson (SA) 7 times
    Hansie Cronje (SA) 7 times
    Ricky Ponting (Aus) 7 times
    Adam Gilchrist (Aus) 7 times
    Simon Katich (Aus) 6 times
    Shane Warne (Aus) 6 times
    Adam Parore (NZ) 5 times
    Matt Horne (NZ) 5 times
    Hashan Tillekeratne (SL) 5 times
    Carl Hooper (WI) 5 times
    Jonty Rhodes (SA) 5 times
    Michael Kasprowicz (Aus) 5 times
    Damien Martyn (Aus) 5 times

    Kumble in each calendar year

    Year Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    1990 1 360 170 3 56.67 3-105 0 0 120.00 47.22
    1992 4 1373 440 17 25.88 6-53 1 0 80.76 32.05
    1993 8 2840 1072 46 23.30 6-64 3 0 61.74 37.75
    1994 7 1994 828 33 25.09 7-59 1 1 60.42 41.52
    1995 3 434 152 10 15.20 5-81 1 0 43.40 35.02
    1996 8 2337 938 29 32.34 5-67 1 0 80.59 40.14
    1997 12 3494 1582 36 43.94 5-104 2 0 97.06 45.28
    1998 5 1880 698 36 19.39 6-98 2 0 52.22 37.13
    1999 10 3491 1461 54 27.06 10-74 4 2 64.65 41.85
    2000 3 912 387 12 32.25 6-143 1 0 76.00 42.43
    2001 5 1549 684 24 28.50 7-115 2 1 64.54 44.16
    2002 10 3126 1356 49 27.67 5-30 2 0 63.80 43.38
    2003 4 1545 765 21 36.43 6-176 2 0 73.57 49.51
    2004 11 3422 1739 66 26.34 8-141 6 2 51.84 50.81
    TOTAL 91 28757 12272 436 28.14 10-74 28 6 65.95 42.67

    Kumble in each country

    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Adelaide 2 756 386 9 42.89 5-154 1 - 84.00 51.06
    Melbourne 2 626 369 8 46.13 6-176 1 - 78.25 58.95
    Sydney 2 733 405 12 33.75 8-141 1 1 61.08 55.25
    Total in Australia 6 2115 1160 29 40.00 8-141 3 1 72.93 54.85
    Dhaka 1 83 45 2 22.50 2-45 - - 41.50 54.21
    Total in Bangladesh 1 83 45 2 22.50 2-45 - - 41.50 54.21
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Edgbaston 1 174 86 1 86.00 1-77 - - 174.00 49.43
    Headingley 1 377 159 7 22.71 4-66 - - 53.86 42.18
    Lord's 2 872 362 9 40.22 3-84 - - 96.89 41.51
    Old Trafford 1 360 170 3 56.67 3-105 - - 120.00 47.22
    The Oval 1 270 133 1 133.00 1-105 - - 270.00 49.26
    Trent Bridge 1 234 98 1 98.00 1-98 - - 234.00 41.88
    Total in England 7 2287 1008 22 45.82 4-66 - - 103.95 44.08
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Ahmedabad 5 1969 710 28 25.36 7-115 2 1 70.32 36.06
    Bangalore 6 1792 833 34 24.50 6-98 3 - 52.71 46.48
    Calcutta 6 2071 877 25 35.08 5-62 1 - 82.84 42.34
    Chennai 6 1648 735 42 17.50 7-48 5 1 39.24 44.60
    Cuttack 1 162 32 1 32.00 1-32 - - 162.00 19.75
    Delhi 4 1568 585 38 15.39 10-74 3 1 41.26 37.31
    Kanpur 3 1114 415 21 19.76 6-67 2 1 53.05 37.25
    Lucknow 1 387 128 11 11.64 7-59 1 1 35.18 33.07
    Mohali 5 1570 698 21 33.24 6-81 1 - 74.76 44.46
    Mumbai WS 6 1774 698 33 21.15 5-90 1 - 53.76 39.35
    Nagpur 4 1145 509 18 28.28 5-63 1 - 63.61 44.45
    Total in India 47 15200 6220 272 22.87 10-74 20 5 55.88 40.92
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Hamilton 2 737 290 5 58.00 2-124 - - 147.40 39.35
    Wellington 1 412 153 6 25.50 4-83 - - 68.67 37.14
    Total in New Zealand 3 1149 443 11 40.27 4-83 - - 104.45 38.56
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Lahore 1 265 146 2 73.00 2-146 - - 132.50 55.09
    Multan 1 417 172 8 21.50 6-72 1 - 52.13 41.25
    Rawalpindi 1 101 71 5 14.20 4-47 - - 20.20 70.30
    Total in Pakistan 3 783 389 15 25.93 6-72 1 - 52.20 49.68
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Bloemfontein 1 324 155 4 38.75 3-132 - - 81.00 47.84
    Cape Town 2 876 315 6 52.50 3-101 - - 146.00 35.96
    Durban 2 452 174 5 34.80 2-26 - - 90.40 38.50
    Johannesburg 2 708 216 12 18.00 6-53 1 - 59.00 30.51
    Port Elizabeth 2 651 235 4 58.75 3-81 - - 162.75 36.10
    Total in South Africa 9 3011 1095 31 35.32 6-53 1 - 97.13 36.37
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Colombo PSS 1 470 203 5 40.60 3-108 - - 94.00 43.19
    Colombo RPS 1 432 223 1 223.00 1-223 - - 432.00 51.62
    Colombo SSC 3 1080 513 16 32.06 5-87 1 - 67.50 47.50
    Kandy 1 - - - - - - - - -
    Total in Sri Lanka 6 1982 939 22 42.68 5-87 1 - 90.09 47.38
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Bridgetown 1 96 44 1 44.00 1-44 - - 96.00 45.83
    Georgetown 2 295 175 3 58.33 2-145 - - 98.33 59.32
    Kingston 1 394 196 8 24.50 5-120 1 - 49.25 49.75
    Port-of-Spain 1 474 213 7 30.43 5-104 1 - 67.71 44.94
    St. John's 2 300 122 3 40.67 2-93 - - 100.00 40.67
    Total in West Indies 7 1559 750 22 34.09 5-104 2 - 70.86 48.11
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Harare 2 588 223 10 22.30 4-87 - - 58.80 37.93
    Total in Zimbabwe 2 588 223 10 22.30 4-87 - - 58.80 37.93
    Ground Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Total abroad 44 13557 6052 164 36.90 8-141 8 1 82.66 44.64
    Total in India 47 15200 6220 272 22.87 10-74 20 5 55.88 40.92
    Grand Total 91 28757 12272 436 28.14 10-74 28 6 65.95 42.67

    Kumble in each series

    Opponent Season Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    England* 1990 1 360 170 3 56.67 3-105 - - 120.00 47.22
    Zimbabwe* 1992-93 1 266 94 3 31.33 3-79 - - 88.67 35.34
    South Africa* 1992-93 4 1527 467 18 25.94 6-53 1 - 84.83 30.58
    England 1992-93 3 1086 416 21 19.81 6-64 1 - 51.71 38.31
    Zimbabwe 1992-93 1 491 160 8 20.00 5-70 1 - 61.38 32.59
    Sri Lanka* 1993-94 3 843 375 13 28.85 5-87 1 - 64.85 44.48
    Sri Lanka 1993-94 3 819 317 18 17.61 7-59 1 1 45.50 38.71
    New Zealand* 1993-94 1 300 102 2 51.00 1-34 - - 150.00 34.00
    West Indies 1994-95 3 875 409 13 31.46 4-90 - - 67.31 46.74
    New Zealand 1995-96 3 434 152 10 15.20 5-81 1 - 43.40 35.02
    England* 1996 3 882 334 5 66.80 3-90 - - 176.40 37.87
    Australia 1996-97 1 390 130 9 14.44 5-67 1 - 43.33 33.33
    South Africa 1996-97 3 877 387 13 29.77 4-71 - - 67.46 44.13
    South Africa* 1996-97 3 932 384 8 48.00 3-40 - - 116.50 41.20
    West Indies* 1996-97 5 1204 576 19 30.32 5-104 2 - 63.37 47.84
    Sri Lanka* 1997-98 2 814 430 5 86.00 3-156 - - 162.80 52.83
    Sri Lanka 1997-98 3 732 279 6 46.50 3-56 - - 122.00 38.11
    Australia 1997-98 3 1146 416 23 18.09 6-98 2 - 49.83 36.30
    Zimbabwe* 1998-99 1 322 129 7 18.43 4-87 - - 46.00 40.06
    New Zealand* 1998-99 2 849 341 9 37.89 4-83 - - 94.33 40.16
    Pakistan 1998-99 3 865 451 22 20.50 10-74 2 1 39.32 52.14
    Sri Lanka* 1998-99 1 325 134 4 33.50 4-134 - - 81.25 41.23
    New Zealand 1999-00 3 1186 364 20 18.20 6-67 2 1 59.30 30.69
    Australia* 1999-00 3 878 450 5 90.00 2-72 - - 175.60 51.25
    South Africa 1999-00 2 712 261 12 21.75 6-143 1 - 59.33 36.66
    South Africa* 2001-02 2 552 244 5 48.80 3-132 - - 110.40 44.20
    England 2001-02 3 997 440 19 23.16 7-115 2 1 52.47 44.13
    Zimbabwe 2001-02 2 806 291 16 18.19 5-63 1 - 50.38 36.10
    West Indies* 2001-02 2 355 174 3 58.00 2-145 - - 118.33 49.01
    England* 2002 3 1045 504 14 36.00 4-66 - - 74.64 48.23
    West Indies 2002-03 3 920 387 16 24.19 5-30 1 - 57.50 42.07
    New Zealand 2003-04 2 841 334 9 37.11 4-95 - - 93.44 39.71
    Australia* 2003-04 3 1237 710 24 29.58 8-141 3 1 51.54 57.40
    Pakistan* 2003-04 3 783 389 15 25.93 6-72 1 - 52.20 49.68
    Australia 2004-05 4 1185 685 27 25.37 7-48 3 1 43.89 57.81
    South Africa 2004-05 2 838 341 10 34.10 6-131 1 - 83.80 40.69
    Bangladesh* 2004-05 1 83 45 2 22.50 2-45 - - 41.50 54.21
    TOTAL 91 28757 12272 436 28.14 10-74 28 6 65.95 42.67

    Batting positions of victims

    Openers #3 #4 #5 #6 #7 #8 #9 #10 #11 1-6% 7-11%
    74 53 46 38 44 38 43 45 35 20 58.49 41.51

    Batting styles of victims

    Wkts Right Left Right% Left%
    436 324 112 74.31% 25.69%

    Runs scored by victims

    0 1-24 25-49 50-89 90-99 100+ 150+ 200+
    51 222 85 53 5 20 6 5

    Wickets per innings

    Wickets 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
    Innings 15 34 24 35 21 12 11 3 1 0 1

    Performance result-wise

      Tests Balls Runs Wkts Best 5WI 10WM Ave SR ER
    In matches won by India 28 9116 3657 199 10-74 15 3 18.38 45.81 40.12
    in matches lost by India 23 7113 3479 87 6-70 4 0 39.99 81.79 48.91
    In drawn matches 39 12445 5091 148 8-141 9 3 34.40 84.09 40.91

    Performance under different captains

    Captain Tests Balls Runs Wkts Ave. Best 5WI 10WM SR ER
    Mohammad Azharuddin 36 11390 4467 179 24.96 10-74 10 2 63.63 39.22
    Sachin Tendulkar 25 7725 3261 97 33.62 6-67 6 1 79.64 42.21
    Sourav Ganguly 25 8138 3762 138 27.26 8-141 10 3 58.97 46.22
    Rahul Dravid 5 1504 782 22 35.55 6-72 2 0 68.36 51.99

    5 or more wickets in an innings (28)

    Wkts Runs Vs Inns Test Venue Series
    10 74 Pak 2nd 2nd Delhi 1998-99
    8 141 Aus 1st 4th Sydney 2003-04
    7 48 Aus 1st 2nd Chennai 2004-05
    7 59 SL 2nd 1st Lucknow 1993-94
    7 115 Eng 1st 2nd Ahmedabad 2001-02
    6 53 SA 2nd 2nd Johannesburg 1992-93
    6 64 Eng 2nd 2nd Chennai 1992-93
    6 67 NZ 2nd 2nd Kanpur 1999-00
    6 70 Pak 1st 1st Chennai 1998-99
    6 72 Pak 2nd 1st Multan 2003-04
    6 81 Eng 2nd 1st Mohali 2001-02
    6 98 Aus 1st 3rd Bangalore 1997-98
    6 131 SA 1st 1st Kanpur 2004-05
    6 133 Aus 2nd 2nd Chennai 2004-05
    6 143 SA 1st 2nd Bangalore 1999-00
    6 176 Aus 1st 3rd Melbourne 2003-04
    5 30 WI 1st 2nd Chennai 2002-03
    5 62 Aus 2nd 2nd Kolkata 1997-98
    5 63 Zim 2nd 1st Nagpur 2001-02
    5 67 Aus 2nd 1st Delhi 1996-97
    5 70 Zim 2nd 1st Delhi 1992-93
    5 81 NZ 2nd 1st Bangalore 1995-96
    5 82 NZ 1st 3rd Ahmedabad 1999-00
    5 87 SL 1st 2nd Colombo (SSC) 1993-94
    5 90 Aus 1st 4th Mumbai WS 2004-05
    5 104 WI 1st 2nd Port-of-Spain 1996-97
    5 120 WI 1st 1st Kingston 1996-97
    5 154 Aus 1st 2nd Adelaide 2003-04

    10 or more wickets in a match (6)

    Wkts Runs Vs Test Venue Series 1st 2nd
    14 149 Pak 2nd Delhi 1998-99 4-75 10-74
    13 181 Aus 2nd Chennai 2004-05 7-48 6-133
    12 279 Aus 4th Sydney 2003-04 8-141 4-138
    11 128 SL 1st Lucknow 1993-94 4-69 7-59
    10 134 NZ 2nd Kanpur 1999-00 4-67 6-67
    10 233 Eng 2nd Ahmedabad 2001-02 7-115 3-118

    Kumble v Kapil (Match by match)

      Kapil Kumble
    After 10 Tests 29 53
    After 20 Tests 70 99
    After 30 Tests 124 136
    After 40 Tests 155 168
    After 50 Tests 200 220
    After 60 Tests 240 270
    After 70 Tests 264 319
    After 80 Tests 291 370
    After 85 Tests 303 400
    After 90 Tests 316 434

    Kumble v Kapil (Tests taken to reach each progressive milestone of 50 wickets)

      Kapil Kumble
    50 wickets 16 10
    100 wickets 25 21
    150 wickets 39 34
    200 wickets 50 47
    250 wickets 65 55
    300 wickets 83 66
    350 wickets 100 77
    400 wickets 115 85

    Top 10 Indian bowlers

    Wkts Bowler Tests Balls Runs Ave Best SR ER 5WI 10WM
    436 A Kumble 91 28757 12272 28.14 10-74 65.95 42.67 28 6
    434 Kapil Dev 131 27740 12867 29.65 9-83 63.92 46.38 23 2
    266 BS Bedi 67 21364 7637 28.71 7-98 80.32 35.75 14 1
    242 BS Chandrasekhar 58 15963 7199 29.75 8-79 65.96 45.10 16 2
    236 J Srinath 67 15104 7196 30.49 8-86 64.00 47.64 10 1
    189 EAS Prasanna 49 14353 5742 30.38 8-76 75.94 40.01 10 2
    185 Harbhajan Singh 42 11447 5133 27.74 8-84 61.87 44.84 15 3
    162 MH Mankad 44 14686 5236 32.32 8-52 90.65 35.65 8 2
    156 S Venkataraghavan 57 14877 5634 36.12 8-72 95.37 37.87 3 1
    151 RJ Shastri 80 15751 6185 40.96 5-75 104.31 39.27 2 0

    Ahead of Kumble in all Test cricket

    Wkts Bowler For Tests Balls Runs Ave Best SR ER 5WI 10WM
    552 SK Warne Aus 117 32902 14102 25.55 8-71 59.60 42.86 28 8
    532 M Muralitharan SL 91 31124 12165 22.87 9-51 58.51 39.08 44 13
    519 CA Walsh WI 132 30019 12688 24.45 7-37 57.84 42.27 22 3
    463 GD McGrath Aus 103 24109 10049 21.70 8-38 52.07 41.68 24 3

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    Rajneesh Gupta

    India In Australia 2024-2025