All You Need to Know About India’s New Coach Anil Kumble

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) today announced the appointment of legendary cricketer and former India skipper Anil Kumble as head coach of the Indian national cricket side for one year.

The 45-year-old spin wizard was on the list of 57 candidates vying for the coveted slot. The list was pruned and placed in front of an advisory panel that included legendary cricketers Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman as members.  Former team director and interim coach Ravi Shastri was also amongst prominent candidates.

Kumble’s first coaching assignment will be India’s upcoming tour of the West Indies in July. India also hosts top sides like New Zealand, England, and Australia later this year.

Let’s take a look at some of the facts about Anil Kumble:

1. Anil Kumble, renowned as specialist Right Arm Leg Spin (Legbreak Googly) bowler started his international career as a fast bowler. 7.He made his One Day International (ODI) debut against Sri Lanka in the Australasia Cup tournament at Sharjah in the year 1989-90 while his Test career began with a Test Series against England played at Manchester in August 1990.
2. Apart from being the highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs for India, Kumble also holds record of best bowling figures by an Indian in an ODI (6-12 against West Indies);
3. Kumble is only the second bowler after in test cricket history to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings. The magician spinner achieved this milestone against bitter rivals Pakistan in 2^nd innings of 2^nd test played at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in 1999. Before Kumble, Right arm off-break bowler Jim Laker claimed all ten Australian wickets in the 1^st innings of 4^th test played at Old Trafford, Manchester in 1956 Ashes series.
4. The newly appointed Indian coach is only the second player (after legendary Shane Warne) to take over 500 Test wickets and score 2000 runs in an illustrious career that spanned nearly two decades (134 test).
5. Anil is third highest wicket taker in test cricket history (619) only after Muttiah Mulridharan (800) of Sri Lanka and Shane Warne (708) of Australia.
6. Kumble won Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1996.
7. Kumble held the record of claiming first 50 test wickets of the career in only 10 matches before Ashwin broke it by dismissing the same number of batsmen in only 9 matches.
8. He also holds the world record of most caught and bowled dismissals.
9. The Spin boy announced to hang-up his boots on 2 November 2008 at Feroz Shah Kotla cricket stadium at New Delhi, India.
10. The gutsy cricketer, who became the fourth Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2015, has a Test century to his credit during his 18-year illustrious career.
11. The government of India conferred upon Kumble Arjuna (1995) and Padma Shri (2005) awards in recognition of his services for the country.