NEW DELHI: Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar on Tuesday extended birthday greetings to former Indian skipper and legendary spinner Anil Kumble as he turned 53 on Tuesday.
Tendulkar took to 'X', formerly Twitter, wishing his long-time friend: "I have known Anil for a long time, and I am so fortunate that we went on to play together for so many years for India. A man who truly championed the spirit of the game and had the grit to perform no matter what. Happy birthday, my friend."
BCCI also wished the spinner and posted a video on ‘X’, revisiting Kumble's memorable 10-wicket haul against Pakistan in 1999.
Kumble concluded his illustrious cricketing career with an impressive record of 619 Test wickets and 337 wickets in one-day internationals (ODIs). His tally of 619 Test wickets remains unmatched, making him the highest wicket-taker among Indian bowlers.
One of the most remarkable moments in Kumble's career came in 1999 when he achieved the rare feat of taking ten wickets in a single innings against Pakistan. This extraordinary performance earned him a place in cricket history, joining the esteemed company of Jim Laker as one of only two cricketers to accomplish such a feat in Test matches.
Kumble's contributions to the sport were further acknowledged when he was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2015. He also took on the role of coaching the Indian cricket team for a brief period. During his tenure as coach, India achieved notable success, triumphing in Test series against the West Indies, New Zealand, England, Bangladesh, and Australia.
