Anil Kumble’s Commentary Anecdote: A Close Call Before 300th Test Wicket
Indian bowling legend Anil Kumble, celebrating his 53rd birthday today, shared a captivating anecdote from his playing days while commentating on the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Bengaluru.
Kumble, who hails from Karnataka, recalled an incident that nearly prevented him from reaching a significant milestone on his home ground. In December 2001, he was bowling to Sachin Tendulkar in the nets ahead of a Test match against England.
“I was at 299 wickets and on the verge of reaching a milestone on my home ground,” said Kumble. “A day before the match, I was bowling to Sachin in the nets. We generally don’t go to pick up the ball until the other bowler has delivered, but somehow I went in after Sachin had played a shot off my last delivery.”
What happened next was a moment of panic for Kumble. “While I was picking up the ball, Harbhajan (Singh) had bowled a delivery to Sachin, which he drove fiercely and the shot ended up hitting me smack in the ribs. Sachin was like ‘yeh maine kya kar diya, iska to home ground hai, iska 300 to gaya (what have I done; it’s his home ground, his 300th wicket is surely gone now),” narrated Kumble.
“Luckily, nothing happened. I played the match and went on to complete my 300 wickets at my home venue (M Chinnaswamy Stadium).”
Kumble became the first Indian spinner to take 300 Test wickets. He ended his career with 619 wickets in 132 Tests and 337 wickets in 271 ODIs.
One of Kumble’s most memorable achievements was taking all 10 wickets in a Test innings against Pakistan in 1999. This feat, known as a “perfect 10,” is considered one of the greatest bowling performances in cricket history.
Kumble’s commentary anecdote not only entertained viewers but also highlighted the camaraderie and competitive spirit that existed within the Indian team during his playing days.
