Anil Kumble announced his retirement from Test cricket here on Sunday, leaving India with a huge task of finding a consistent match-winning spinner. The 38-year-old will always be remembered for his magical spell against Pakistan here in 1999 when he became only the second bowler after Englishman Jim Laker to grab 10 wickets in a Test innings.
He will also be known for putting the team before himself, bowling with a broken jaw against the West Indies in the 2002 Antigua Test and then trapping Brian Lara leg-before.
No bowler has won as many matches for India at home and away as leg-spinner Kumble, known for his perseverance and courage in adversity during an illustrious 18-year career.
India are now left with just one experienced spinner in Harbhajan Singh, Kumble's partner for more than a decade. The "spin twins" were instrumental in scripting many Test and one-day victories.
Kumble was a spinner with a difference, defying convention and odds on way to 619 wickets in 132 matches - the third highest in Tests after Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan (756) and retired Australian Shane Warne (708). He claimed five or more wickets in a Test innings 35 times and 10 or more in a match eight times.
Kumble was not a big turner of the ball like off-spinner Muralitharan and leg-spinner Warne, but was second to none when it came to probing batsmen's credentials with shrewd variations.
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