Anil Kumble was a bit like Rahul Dravid of India's bowling line-up: Steve Waugh

The former Australian captain Steve Waugh heaped praises on India’s leg-break spinner Anil Kumble and hailed him as a fierce competitor. Lauding Kumble for his bowling variations and dedication towards the sport and his country, Steve named the former leg-spinner as the ‘Rahul Dravid’ of India’s bowling attack.

The former head coach of the Indian cricket team Anil Kumble will always be renowned as the best leg-spinner India has ever produced. He was a legend especially in the purest format of the game as he is the highest wicket-taker for India in Test format with 619 scalps to his name in 132 games at an economy of 2.69 and an average of 29.6.

Kumble also featured in 271 One Day Internationals for Men in Blue since his ODI against Sri Lanka on April 25, 1990, and picked a whopping 337 wickets at an economy rate of 4.30. Acknowledging the contribution made by Kumble towards the Indian team, Steve Waugh reckoned that he hardly remembers any match where the leg-spinner didn’t give his 100% or bowled loose balls.

“He (Anil Kumble) was a fierce competitor. He was always at you and never gave you an inch. I can’t remember him bowling poorly against us. He was a bit like Dravid of their bowling line-up. The captain knew what they were going to get from him. He was there all the time,” Steve Waugh told cricket.com.au.

We certainly didn’t play Anil Kumble as a leg-spinner: Steve Waugh

Waugh, who captained Australia in 57 Tests out of which he led his team to 41 wins and had a win percentage of 72, revealed that Anil Kumble was a very passionate cricketer and always took pride in donning the blue jersey and repressing India on the big stage.

Further, speaking about the 50-year-old’s bowling variations, the Australian veteran opined that Kumble used to change his pace and the batsmen had to play him more like a slow in-swing bowler than a leg-spinner.

“I don’t think I played anyone who enjoyed playing for the country as much as he (Anil Kumble) did. It was everything to him. We certainly didn’t play him as a leg-spinner. We played him more like a slow in-swing bowler.

“He had a great change of pace. It was all about variations, use of the crease. He sort of mixed it up a bit. Anything in the wicket like a bit of rough or unevenness, and he was more than a handful,” Waugh concluded.