JOIN USHappy birthday Kumble: 10 things you should know about 'Jumbo'
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