Anil Kumble Records & Statistics
Anil Kumble Records, Stats, Wickets, 10 Wickets in an Innings & Career Achievements






Anil Kumble – India’s Greatest Match-Winning Spinner
Anil Kumble is one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history and India’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. Known for his relentless accuracy, bounce, and fighting spirit, Kumble became only the second bowler in Test history to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.
Player Profile
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anil Radhakrishna Kumble |
| Born | 17 October 1970 |
| Birth Place | Bengaluru, Karnataka, India |
| Country | India |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm Leg Break |
| Batting Style | Right-Hand Bat |
| Role | Bowler |
| ODI Debut | 1990 vs Sri Lanka |
| Test Debut | 1990 vs England |
| International Career | 1990–2008 |
Career Statistics
Test Cricket
| Matches | Wickets | Average | 5WI | 10WM | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132 | 619 | 29.65 | 35 | 8 | 10/74 |
Batting
| Runs | Average | 100s | 50s |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,506 | 17.77 | 1 | 5 |
ODI Cricket
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 271 | 337 | 30.89 | 4.30 | 6/12 |
Batting
| Runs | Average |
|---|---|
| 938 | 10.54 |
International Career
| Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|
| 403 | 956 |
Kumble retired as India’s highest international wicket-taker and remains one of the most successful bowlers in cricket history.
Major Career Records
Test Cricket Records
India’s Highest Test Wicket-Taker
| Rank | Player | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anil Kumble | 619 |
| 2 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 537+ |
| 3 | Kapil Dev | 434 |
10 Wickets in an Innings
On 7 February 1999 against Pakistan at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, Kumble produced one of cricket’s greatest performances.
Match Figures
| Innings | Figures |
|---|---|
| Pakistan 2nd Innings | 10/74 |
He became only the second bowler after Jim Laker to take all 10 wickets in a Test innings.
Records for India
- Most Test wickets for India (619).
- First Indian bowler to reach 500 Test wickets.
- Most Test five-wicket hauls by an Indian at the time of retirement.
- One of only three Indians with 900+ international wickets.
World Records
Most Test Wickets
| Rank | Bowler | Wickets |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 800 |
| 2 | Shane Warne | 708 |
| 3 | James Anderson | 704 |
| 4 | Anil Kumble | 619 |
Kumble remains among the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket history.
Famous Achievements
Broken Jaw Heroics (2002)
During a Test match against the West Indies, Kumble bowled with a fractured jaw and dismissed Brian Lara.
This is widely regarded as one of cricket’s toughest and bravest performances.
500th Test Wicket
Kumble became the first Indian bowler to take 500 Test wickets, achieving the milestone against Pakistan in 2006.
Test Century at The Oval
Though primarily a bowler, Kumble scored a memorable unbeaten 110 against England at The Oval in 2007.
Captaincy Record
Test Captaincy
| Matches | Wins | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| 14 | 3 | 5 |
He captained India during a crucial transition period and was respected worldwide for his sportsmanship and leadership.
Awards & Honors
- Padma Shri (2005)
- ICC Cricket Hall of Fame
- Wisden Cricketer of the Year
- Arjuna Award
Interesting Records
Bowling Records
- 619 Test wickets.
- 337 ODI wickets.
- 35 Test five-wicket hauls.
- 8 Test ten-wicket match hauls.
- Only Indian bowler with a Test innings figure of 10/74.
Unique Achievement
Kumble took 956 international wickets despite not being a traditional big-turning leg spinner, relying mainly on accuracy, bounce, and subtle variations.
Why Anil Kumble Is Special
Unlike many leg-spinners who relied heavily on spin, Kumble succeeded through:
- Unmatched accuracy.
- Relentless consistency.
- Exceptional fitness.
- Mental toughness.
Many experts consider him India’s greatest match-winning bowler.
FAQs
How many Test wickets did Anil Kumble take?
Anil Kumble took 619 Test wickets, the most by an Indian bowler.
Did Anil Kumble take all 10 wickets in a Test innings?
Yes. He took 10 wickets for 74 runs against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999.
How many international wickets did Anil Kumble take?
He finished with 956 international wickets across Tests and ODIs.
What was Anil Kumble’s best bowling figure?
His best Test bowling figure was 10/74 against Pakistan.
Is Anil Kumble in the ICC Hall of Fame?
Yes, Anil Kumble was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame.
Related Players
- Ravichandran Ashwin Records
- Kapil Dev Records
- Harbhajan Singh Records
- Jasprit Bumrah Records
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar Records
