New Delhi, Oct 17: Wishes continue to pour in for Anil Kumble as former India captain and legendary spinner turned 49 on Thursday (October 17).
Several India cricketers took to Twitter to extend birthday wishes for 'Jumbo', who has 619 Test wickets and 337 ODI wickets to his credit. A fiercely competitive bowler and a thorough gentleman on and off the field, Kumble has been a towering personality in Indian cricket.
From 132 Tests, the leg-spinner amassed 619 wickets, third in the all-time list behind Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne, and from 271 ODIs he grabbed 337 wickets.
Happy birthday Anil Kumble!
— ICC (@ICC) October 17, 2019
6️⃣1️⃣9️⃣ Test wickets 👏
3️⃣3️⃣7️⃣ ODI wickets 👏 pic.twitter.com/ZVq3pqqOSK
Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar took to his Twitter handle to greet his former India teammate and a dear friend on his birthday.
REWIND 📽️📽️: On @anilkumble1074's Birthday, here's how one of the most iconic events in cricket inspired many 💪💪
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2019
Happy Birthday Legend 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/tq1YOH4KxT
"Wishing you a very happy birthday Anil Kumble. I've always known you as a fierce competitor and it was always a pleasure sharing the field with you," wrote Sachin on his Twitter handle.
Wishing you a very happy birthday Anil Kumble. I've always known you as a fierce competitor and it was always a pleasure sharing the field with you. pic.twitter.com/h7IeRd6Txu
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 17, 2019
Former India opener Virender Sehwag sent a witty birthday wish for the Karnataka cricketer as he reminded the spinner how he once deprived him of a Test match century.
💪 One of the all-time great spinners!
— Lord's Cricket Ground (@HomeOfCricket) October 17, 2019
🎂 Happy Birthday to MCC Honorary Life Member, @anilkumble1074!#LoveLords pic.twitter.com/beCLN0lARk
Kumble once recalled during an interview, how Sehwag asked him during the lunch break to go for a boundary instead of dealing in singles to complete his century. But as fate had it, Kumble went for the big shot and got dismissed in the nineties.
"One of India's greatest ever Match winners and a terrific role model. Sorry for depriving you of your second century @anilkumble1074 Bhai. But I pray that you score a century in real life. Only 51 more to go. come on ..come on Anil Bhai! Happy Birthday," Sehwag tweeted.
One of India’s greatest ever Match winners and a terrific role model. Sorry for depriving you of your second century @anilkumble1074 bhai. But I pray that you score a century in real life. Only 51 more to go.. come on ..come on Anil Bhai ! Happy Birthday pic.twitter.com/P7UnvoLBlU
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) October 17, 2019
Kumble's former India teammate VVS Laxman greeted the spinner on his birthday and wrote on his Twitter handle, "Wishing you a very special birthday and a wonderful year ahead @anilkumble1074 May God shower you with blessings today and always and I am sure this special day will bring you endless joy and tons of precious memories!"
Wishing you a very special birthday and a wonderful year ahead @anilkumble1074 May God shower you with blessings today and always and I am sure this special day will bring you endless joy and tons of precious memories!🤗🤗🤗 pic.twitter.com/Sun4LaLY6Q
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) October 17, 2019
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who claimed Kumble as the best captain he played under, wrote on his Twitter handle, "Birthday wishes to India's greatest match-winner @anilkumble1074! Have learnt so much from you and you are the best leader that I have played under! Thanks for inspiring generations of cricketers."
Birthday wishes to India’s greatest match winner @anilkumble1074 ! Have learnt so much from you and you are the best leader that I have played under! Thanks for inspiring generations of cricketers. pic.twitter.com/NAM2KeFdtX
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) October 17, 2019
India spinner Harbhajan Singh wrote on his Twitter handle, "Greatest spinner ever played the game. biggest match-winner for india.. happy birthday @anilkumble1074 my bowling partner and guru."
Greatest spinner ever played the game.. biggest match winner for india.. happy birthday @anilkumble1074 my bowling partner and guru 🙏 pic.twitter.com/u9ef40Srjs
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) October 17, 2019
Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle also greeted Kumble on his birthday and wrote on his Twitter handle, "A very happy birthday to @anilkumble1074, a player I have enjoyed watching, a giant of a person and a great Indian."
A very happy birthday to @anilkumble1074, a player I have enjoyed watching, a giant of a person and a great Indian.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 17, 2019
Kumble was appointed the head coach of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Kings XI Punjab for the 2020 edition.
The former India Head Coach was also being put in charge of "all cricket-related affairs" of the team for the foreseeable future, co-owner of the franchise Mohit Burman had confirmed.
The appointment makes Kumble the only Indian coach in the IPL.