OTD: 28 years ago on this very day, Anil Kumble became only the second bowler in the world to pick up 10 wickets in an innings in the history of Test cricket.
In Short
- Anil Kumble finished with figures of 26.3-9-74-10 in the New Delhi Test
- Kumble also accounted for 4 scalps in the first innings of the Test
- Kumble is one of the 3 bowlers to pick up 10 wickets in a Test innings.
February 7, 1996, was a historic day in the history of Indian cricket. 28 years ago, on this very day, Anil Kumble became the first from his country to pick up 10 wickets in a Test innings. Kumble accomplished the feat in the second Test of the 2-match series against Pakistan at New Delhi’s Feroz Shah Kotla, now known as the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
Kumble became the second bowler to reach the landmark after England’s Jim Laker, who picked up a 10-wicket haul against Australia at the Old Trafford in Manchester way back in July 1956.
Going into the New Delhi Test, India were under immense pressure after losing the first Test in Chennai by 12 runs. However, Mohammad Azharuddin and Co. finished the series 1-1 after Kumble pulled off an absolute spectacle with the ball in hand.
Starting with, Kumble helped India take a substantial lead of 80 runs in their first innings. The leg-spinner dismissed Ijaz Ahmed, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf and Saqlain Mushtaq to finish with impressive figures of 24.3-4-75-4.
Thereafter, Sadagopan Ramesh, Sourav Ganguly and Javagal Srinath scored 96, 62 and 49 respectively to make sure that India set Pakistan a stiff target of 420 to chase down.
Anil Kumble unleashes hell at Kotla
Pakistan made an impressive start to their run-chase after Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi put on 101 runs for the opening wicket off 24.2 overs. Just when it seemed that Pakistan were gradually getting themselves in a position of command, Kumble got the prized wicket of Afridi, who made 41 runs off 64 balls with 7 fours.
After Kumble made the initial breakthrough, Pakistan lost their way completely and were reduced to 128 for 6 in a space of 11.5 overs. Anwar made 69 runs off 128 balls before Kumble got rid of him.
Saleem Malik and skipper Wasim Akram tried to restore sanity with a partnership of 58 runs, but their efforts were never going to be enough for Pakistan to go past the finish line.
Kumble finished with figures of 26.3-9-74-10 as Pakistan were bowled out for 207 in 60.3 overs.
Apart from Laker and Kumble, New Zealand’s Ajaz Patel also holds the distinction of picking up 10 wickets in an innings. Patel achieved the feat in the Black Caps’ Test against India back in December 2021 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
This article was published on India Today.
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