If there was DRS, I would have probably gotten the 10-fer against Pakistan earlier: Anil Kumble

Back in 1999, Anil Kumble became the second bowler after Jim Laker to pick up 10 wickets in an innings. The leg-spinner ran through the Pakistan batting lineup in the second innings at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi. His magical spell came after Saeed Anwar’s 69 and Shahid Afridi’s 41 took Pakistan to a commanding position while chasing 420.

However, Kumble chipped in and made sure that India won the game in a comprehensive manner by 212 runs. After being 101 for no loss in the 25th over, the visitors were shot out for 207 courtesy Kumble’s masterful spell of bowling.

In the meantime, Kumble, who ended with 619 Test wickets, went down the memory lane and recalled some happenings from the game. The now 49-year-old Kumble put forth his opinions on Ravi Ashwin’s YouTube show ‘DRS with Ash’.

That’s how I look at it: Anil Kumble

“When I took six out of six, there was a tea break. So, when I came back, I was a bit tired. Because I had bowled from lunch to tea, right throughout that spell. And at tea, I realised that there is a chance for me to get better than what I have done before. I never realised that I will get all 10,” Kumble told. The veteran got rid of Wasim Akram to accomplish the feat.

“I don’t think you go into a game thinking you are going to get all 10. Although you try and prepare that way, saying that, how do I bowl from No 1 to No 11 in the team? But you never realise that you will get all 10. So, eight and nine happened with the fifth and sixth balls of that over,” he added.

Kumble also admitted that he would have gotten the 10-fer earlier if the Decision Review System (DRS) came into existence back then. “If there was DRS, everything was out. It was clean out. If there was DRS, I would have probably gotten the 10 earlier. That’s how I look at it,” Kumble stated.

The DRS came to the fore back in 2008 during India’s away Test series against Sri Lanka. Virender Sehwag became the first batsman to be given out under the review system.