Anil Kumble is probably the greatest match-winner India has ever produced: Harbhajan Singh

In an international career spanning almost over two decades, Anil Kumble was one of the greatest players to have donned the Indian jersey. ‘Jumbo’ wasn’t regarded as a great spinner of the ball. However, it was his grip, action and variation which helped him emerge as a match-winning bowler.

Kumble was considered as one of the most successful bowlers of all time and his wicket-taking tally proves his worth. His tally of 619 wickets puts him only behind Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan in the list of all-time wicket-takers in Test cricket.

Kumble even boasts an exemplary record in limited-overs cricket, scalping 337 wickets from 271 matches. He still remains India’s leading wicket-taker in Tests as well as ODIs. No fan can forget the feat which Kumble achieved against Pakistan in 1999. He became the second bowler after Jim Laker to take 10 wickets in a Test innings.

I’m lucky to have played with Anil Kumble: Harbhajan Singh

Heaping praise on Kumble, veteran India off-spinner said that ‘Jumbo’ is the greatest ever to play for India. Harbhajan played a large part of his Test career alongside Kumble. Harbhajan even played under Kumble’s leadership when he was appointed as skipper in 2007, until he bid adieu to the game in the following year.

“In my view, Anil bhai was the greatest ever who played for India,” Harbhajan said to Sportstar. According to Harbhajan, a player’s capability to spin the ball doesn’t define his success. The Jalandhar-born spinner said that he feels lucky to have played under ‘committed’ Kumble’s leadership.

“He’s probably the greatest match-winner India has ever produced. People used to say he didn’t spin the ball, but he showed that if you had the heart, you could get batsmen out regardless of whether the ball spun or not.

If anyone has half the competitiveness Anil bhai had, he would become a champion. I’m lucky to have played with him for so many years. He was an unbelievably committed player,” added Harbhajan.