Happy birthday Kumble: 10 things you should know about 'Jumbo'

Today is the 49th birthday of one of the biggest match-winners in the history of Indian cricket: Anil Kumble. The legendary leg-spinner is India's highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 619 scalps and he holds the distinction in ODI cricket also, with 337 wickets. On his birthday, let us look at the top 10 things you should know about Anil Kumble.

Kumble made his mark even in the IPL

In the second edition of the IPL (2009), Kumble took over the reins of the Royal Challengers Bangalore and led his team to the final where they were defeated by the Deccan Chargers captained by former Australian wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist. Kumble finished the tournament with 21 wickets at an economy of 5.86 runs. Credit: DH Photo

The long awaited century

On Aug. 10, 2007, Kumble scored his maiden Test century, making an unbeaten 110 against England at the Oval to help his team to a total of 664. He took 118 Tests to reach his maiden Test hundred, which is a record for the most matches taken to score a century, beating Chaminda Vaas who had held this record previously with 96 Tests. It was also the only hundred by an Indian in the three-Test series. He is also the only Test cricketer to have completed the dual feat of 10 wickets in an innings and a Test hundred in a career. Photo credit: abc.net

An engineer if not a cricketer

What would Kumble have done if he was not a cricketer? He would probably have made a career as an engineer. He graduated with a B.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Rashtreeya Vidyalaya College of Engineering. Photo credit: Wikipedia

'Jumbo' in elite company

Kumble holds the distinction of becoming the fourth bowler and only Indian after Richard Hadlee, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan to have taken 5 wickets in a Test innings more than 30 times. He also holds the world record for the largest number of caught-and-bowled dismissals in Tests, 35 – which forms 5.65% of his total wickets. Credit: DH Photo

Breaching the wall of 600

On Jan. 17, 2008, in the third Test against Australia at the WACA, Perth, Kumble became the first Indian bowler and the third in the world to reach the milestone of 600 Test wickets. Kumble achieved the record just after the tea break when he had Andrew Symonds caught by Rahul Dravid at first slip. Kumble's 600 wickets came in 124 matches at an average of 28.68. Kumble has captured the most wickets against Australia by an Indian bowler. He is the third bowler after Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne to take 600 Test wickets. Credit: DH Photo

When he bowled with a broken jaw

The Antigua Test of 2004 between India and the West Indies will always be remembered for the heroics of Kumble when he decided to bowl with a broken jaw. During India's batting innings, the no. 7 batsman Kumble was hit by a delivery from Merv Dillon. Blood oozed from his mouth but he decided to bat for another 20 minutes. A scan revealed a fractured jaw. At that point, everyone thought that India would have to do without their talismanic leg-spinner. Kumble, however, decided to return to the field, heavily bandaged around his chin. Moreover, he even took the wicket of West Indies' legendary batsman Brian Lara. Photo credit: YouTube

Tireless servant of Indian cricket

Kumble has bowled 40,850 balls in his entire Test career, which is the second highest total after M Muralitharan's 44,039 balls. Photo credit: Wikimedia

He could bat a bit too

Kumble is the second player in history after Shane Warne to score 2,000 runs and take over 500 Test wickets. Photo credit: Flickr

The perfect 10!

Kumble is only the second bowler in the history of Test cricket after Jim Laker (England) to take all 10 wickets in an innings. He achieved this feat against Pakistan in February 1999 in Delhi. The performance was rated by Wisden as the "second-best bowling performance of all time". Photo credit: YouTube

Why is he called 'Jumbo'?

Anil Kumble's nickname 'Jumbo' comes not only from his deliveries that are "as fast as a jumbo jet", but also because his feet are quite big as observed by his teammates. Photo credit: Flickr