Anil Kumble welcomes Ajaz Patel to Perfect 10 club

Anil Kumble (left) is congratulated by teammates after he took all 10 Pakistani wickets in 1999. Pic/AFP

On 7 February 1999, leg-spinner Anil Kumble gatecrashed into what was then a one-man club, joining England off-spinner Jim Laker as the only men in Test history to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings. It had taken 43 years for Laker to stop feeling lonely at the top. On Saturday, in less than half that time, the Perfect Ten club welcomed its third member at the Wankhede Stadium.

When New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, born in Mumbai 33 summers back, had Mohammed Siraj caught by Rachin Ravindra, he ensured that spinners of all ilk populated the rarefied stratosphere.

Kumble sir, as Ajaz endearingly referred to him within minutes of signing off with remarkable figures of 10 for 119, was among the first to congratulate (on social media) the newest star, adding, "A special effort to achieve it on Day 1 and 2 of a Test match."

‘Not something you can plan'

"This is not something you can plan for as a bowler," Kumble chuckled as he reflected on what it takes for a bowler to dismiss all 10 opposition batsmen in an innings.

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"Of course, you plan for every batsman, you think of ways to get them out, but you never go on to the field thinking you are going to take all 10. It's destiny, one of those things that happen. It takes a lot of hard work, bowling long spells, yes, but so many other things need to fall in place. As well as one might bowl, the catches need to go to hand, the fielders need to take those catches. That's what happened with Ajaz, as it happened with me all those years back."

Memories of that wintry afternoon at the Ferozeshah Kotla came flooding back as Kumble reflected on his emotions after taking 10 for 74 on Day Four against Pakistan, bowling India to a comprehensive 212-run victory.

"The first emotion I felt was delight that we had defeated Pakistan," he recalled. "That was the most important thing, that we won the match against Pakistan and squared the series, especially after how the first Test [in Chennai, which India lost agonisingly by 12 runs] had gone. It was the fourth innings of the match and we were able to celebrate both the moment and the victory on the field, that made it quite special for me. Ajaz finds himself in a different place now. His 10-for came away from home, in the first innings of the Test, but New Zealand are not too well placed. However, that doesn't take anything away from a truly memorable achievement."

That Afridi dismissal

Pakistan were 101 without loss in 24.1 overs, chasing 420, when Kumble got rid of Shahid Afridi. In Mumbai, India had reached 80 without loss on the first afternoon in 27.2 overs when Shubman Gill became the first of Ajaz's 10 victims.

"A fast bowler might get four or five wickets in a clutch, but not many pacers can bowl 15 or 20-over spells like spinners," Kumble rationalised about spinners monopolising Perfect 10.

"On the flip side, you can only get 10 wickets if you start with the opener's wicket. India were 80 when Ajaz took the first wicket, so again it's just one of those things that happen."

Kumble had played nine years of international cricket before the 10 for 74. "My life changed," he admitted.

"Everybody started expecting a 10-for after that. Maybe and hopefully for Ajaz, those expectations won't happen in New Zealand. But it's wonderful, what he has achieved, and I am sure his life will change - the Perfect 10 man is what he will be known for. I am truly happy for him. "What a great thing to do in your birthplace, in Mumbai, to get all 10 wickets!"

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