‘Got a congratulatory text message from Anil Kumble’ – Stuart Binny after record-breaking spell against Bangladesh

Stuart Binny might not be in radar for selection in the Indian team, but he had his fair share of success in the limited chances he got. Back in 2014, he notched the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in ODI cricket against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. The spell was a match-winning one as the home team lost by 47 runs, chasing a mere 106.

He broke the legendary Anil Kumble’s record, which was created against the West Indies back in 1993 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Binny, who last played for India back in 2015, said that he was unaware of creating the record and realised it only during the presentation ceremony. He was the most surprised when Kumble himself messaged him to congratulate him.

I still get goosebumps when I watch that video: Stuart Binny

“To break Anil Bhai’s record was something special. I had no idea that the record was broken until I went to the presentation. I actually got a text message from him saying ‘Congratulations! Really happy to see someone from Karnataka break the record’,” Binny was quoted as saying in Sportskeeda.

In that game, Binny got rid of Mohammad Mithun, Mushfiqur Rahim, the then Bangladesh captain, Mahmudullah Riyad, Nasir Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza. In the very contest, speedster Taskin Ahmed also got a five-wicket haul, but his efforts went in vain. It was a rain-interrupted game and Binny said the moisture in the surface helped him to a large extent.

“I still get goosebumps when I watch that video to be honest. You can’t ask for better days than that. It was a game where we didn’t get too many runs on the board and we were under the pump from ball one. It was a wicket that wasn’t bad but we were on and off the field because of rain,” he stated.

“The covers came on and off and on and off. There was a little moisture in the surface and it suited my bowling. I could not have asked for a better wicket on that day to suit my bowling,” Binny added. Binny last played competitive cricket, representing Nagaland in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy.