Top 5 batting performances in Tests by Indian spin legends

#3 Anil Kumble, 88 vs South Africa at Kolkata, 1996

Kumble scored an important 88 against South Africa

This is Anil Kumble’s second innings in this list and this one came against South Africa in 1996 when the Proteas were touring India. South Africa elected to bat first and posted a total of 428 in their first innings thanks to centuries from openers Gary Kirsten and Andrew Hudson.

In reply, India got off to a good start with openers Nayan Mongia and Rahul Dravid adding 68 for the first wicket but their dismissal triggered a batting collapse and soon India were struggling at 161/7 and a follow-on was imminent.

Anil Kumble and Mohammad Azharuddin then took on the South African bowling and were flamboyantly hitting them for one boundary after another. Kumble, who wasn’t renowned for his batting hit a total of 13 boundaries and scored 88 off 124 deliveries at a strike rate of 70.96.

He formed a 161-run partnership with Azharuddin who then scored the fourth-fastest Test century off 74 balls and helped India to avoid the follow-on. Kumble’s innings of 88 was a career best for him at that time which was later beaten by another knock which we’ll come across in this list.