FORMER India captain Anil Kumble enters cricket's Hall of Fame on Sunday (February 22), saying he was honoured to become only the fourth player from his country to join the elite club.
“Its a great honour to be inducted into the Hall of Fame,” the 44-year-old Kumble told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday (February 21). “I am proud to be part of great luminaries.”
The former leg-spinner will be presented a commemorative cap in a special ceremony in front of some 80,000 spectators during the innings break of the World Cup match between South Africa and India on Sunday.
Kumble's 619 wickets is the third highest in Test cricket behind fellow spinners Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka, who has 800 wickets, and Australian Shane Warne (708).
Kumble, who retired in 2008 after a 18-year career in which he played 132 Tests and 271 one-dayers, captained India in 14 Tests between 2007 and 2008, winning three and losing five.
He is only the second bowler after Englishman Jim Laker to claim all 10 wickets in a Test innings, achieving the feat against traditional rivals Pakistan at the Ferozeshah Kotla in New Delhi in 1999.
Despite his record, Kumble admitted he lacked the skills of both Muralitharan and Warne.
“I could never compete with them because I did not have their skills,” said Kumble.
“But it is their friendship I will treasure all my life.”
Kumble is the 77th inductee in the International Cricket Council's Hall of Fame which includes three other Indians – Sunil Gavaskar, Kapil Dev and Bishan Bedi.
