On February 7th, 1999, cricket witnessed a momentous occasion as Indian spin legend Anil Kumble etched his name into the annals of the sport’s history by becoming the first Indian and only the second bowler globally to claim all 10 wickets in an innings of a Test match.
This remarkable feat took place during the Delhi Test at the iconic Feroz Shah Kotla ground, now known as the Arun Jaitley Stadium, against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Prior to Kumble’s extraordinary achievement, England’s Jim Laker held the record for dismissing all 10 batsmen in a Test innings, accomplishing the remarkable feat against Australia in 1956. Kumble’s exceptional performance saw him bowl 26.3 overs, including 9 maidens, conceding just 74 runs while dismantling the entire Pakistan batting lineup.
In the backdrop of a jam-packed stadium, Kumble’s historic spell paved the way for India’s comprehensive victory over Pakistan by 212 runs. Batting first, India posted 252 runs on the board, followed by a stellar performance by Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, restricting Pakistan to 174 runs in their first innings. In the second innings, contributions from Sadagoppan Ramesh and Sourav Ganguly propelled India to a commanding total of 339 runs.
Pakistan’s hopes were dashed despite a strong start, with a century opening stand between Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi. However, Kumble’s exceptional bowling prowess saw him dismantle Pakistan’s batting lineup single-handedly, securing his place in cricketing history.