On this day in 1999, India’s renowned spin maestro Anil Kumble accomplished a historic milestone by becoming only the second bowler in Test cricket history, and the first Indian, to claim all 10 wickets in a single innings. This remarkable feat took place during the Delhi Test held at the Feroz Shah Kotla ground, now known as the Arun Jaitley Stadium, against traditional rivals Pakistan.
Before Kumble’s extraordinary achievement, England’s Jim Laker held the distinction of dismissing all 10 batsmen in an innings, a feat he accomplished in 1956 against Australia.
Kumble’s extraordinary performance saw him bowling 26.3 overs, including 9 maidens, and conceding just 74 runs while dismantling the entire Pakistan batting lineup in front of a packed stadium.
In the match, India posted 252 runs in their first innings, while Pakistan could only manage 174 in reply, largely due to Kumble’s four-wicket haul and Harbhajan Singh’s three-wicket contribution.
During India’s second innings, significant contributions from Sadagoppan Ramesh, who scored 96 runs, and Sourav Ganguly, with an unbeaten 62, propelled India to a total of 339 runs.
Kumble’s exceptional bowling performance in Pakistan’s second innings secured a resounding 212-run victory for India, earning him the title of ‘Player of the Match’ and etching his name in the annals of cricket history. He is affectionately known as ‘Jumbo’ by fans and teammates alike.