75 years of independence, 75 iconic moments of Indian sport: Number 55 – February 7, 1999: Anil Kumble’s historic 10-goal win over Pakistan

India will complete 75 years of Independence this year. Here is a series of 75 great sports achievements of Indian athletes. Sports star will showcase an iconic sporting achievement every day, through August 15, 2022.

February 7, 1999: Anil Kumble’s historic 10-goal match against Pakistan

On 7 February 1999, Indian spin kick legend Anil Kumble claimed a 10-point win over Pakistan in the second half of the test match at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi.

He became the second cricketer, the first from India, to achieve this feat after British skater Jim Laker (10/53). Kumble’s feat helped India win the Test match with 212 runs.

Pakistan was targeted at 420 in the second inning and then the magic started.

“I wanted to flatter him a bit, so that wicket could do the rest. The ball was kept low and Afridi scored,” said Kumble. Nayan Mongia, the maverick catcher, added, “It was a quicker shot and Afridi took a lap. He has an external advantage and I am happy to take the offer.”

“Ijaz has always been known to me as a frontrunner. I wanted to throw straight at him at equal length and hit his toe and that was all I tried,” he recalls. Mongia, added, “It was a good yorker and Ijaz played it with his pad and was eliminated before that.”

“He doesn’t put his right foot up and on these brackets, where the ball is holding low, if you get hit on your pad with the ball aligned, you’re going to drown. His stick is inside and I don’t think he’s looking to play that ball,” the legend analyzed. Mongia calls the delivery “a quick, smooth, concise, tree-top delivery.”

“It was a slower split that kicked off the length and went to Sourav Ganguly, who caught it well,” he added. Mongia threw lightly at Moin’s leg movements. “He delivers bowling faster and Moin doesn’t strain too much. There was a patch where Anil was bouncing and he threw it right there. ”

“I threw the ball around the tree for him the whole round. I also missed a chance to catch and throw the ball. I changed over to the stump because I thought I would get more body into the action with a little bounce. The leg break that I bowed to him kicked slightly more than expected, it hit his glove and went to the short leg,” Kumble recalls. Mongia: “When Anil throws the ball with his feet, it’s very difficult for lefties.”

“He has a hamstring problem and his foot is immobile. I don’t think he expected the ball to miss. Kumble adds a little more and he’s trying to pull, which is a big bonus,” Kumble added. “Normally, only a player who is not from the subcontinent would make such a serve. He did a pull in the middle and got bowled,” summarized Mongia.

“I broke my leg, like I did with Moin. It turned around, bounced, and blundered over to Rahul Dravid,” he said. According to Mongia, Mushtaq handled Kumble well until, “he tried spinning his feet again.”

“I just wanted to deliver a long delivery to the base of the tree and he was stuck,” he said. Mongia knows spinner variations and adds, “His speed changes and this is, again, a fast spinner.”

“I just played a leg break hoping he would score, pitch or even get a top edge to square foot. So it just happened,” Kumble said of his 10th victim, who was also the Pakistan captain at the time. “Thanks to Srinath (Javagal) who threw wide balls outside the tree stump. Waqar Younis tried his best to get down but he slipped. We all hoped Srinath wouldn’t get the ring,” Mongia recalls.

(This article was first published as a photo story on the Sportsstar website)