Jumbo Performances - Top 10 Test bowling performances of Anil Kumble

# 3: 7/63 vs Pakistan, Kolkata, 2005

Anil Kumble vs Pakistan, 2005

Pakistan had shown great fight and resilience in the first Test of the series at Mohali to draw the match from a seemingly lost position. They were only 41 runs ahead when they lost six of their wickets in the second innings, and a defeat seemed imminent. However Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq played out of their skins to have a 200-run partnership and helped Pakistan escape with a draw.

Coming into the second Test at Kolkata, India were under great pressure from all ends. On an Eden pitch which wasn’t anywhere close to unplayable, Pakistan faced a target of 422 runs to win the Test match. Shahid Afridi and Taufeeq Umar gave Pakistan a great start scoring 93 runs in only 18.5 overs, when Kumble struck with the wicket of Shahid Afridi.

Pakistan had one of their strongest ever batting line ups with Younis Khan, Inzamam-ul-Haq and Yousuf Youhana in the middle order. Coming into the final day, Pakistan needed 327 runs to win with 9 wickets in hand. Kumble got Younis Khan out on the very first ball of the day with a cleverly planned stumping on the leg side. Inzamam-Ul-Haq never felt at ease against a rampaging Kumble, who finally bowled him to get him out for the seventh time in eight Test matches.

None of Pakistan’s batsmen could play Kumble with any assurance. Kumble ran through the Pakistan batting line-up, finishing with 7 wickets for 63 runs in 38 overs of choking line and length bowling. India won the Test by 195 runs, taking an unassailable 1-0 lead in the 3-Test match series.