Anil Kumble was named captain of the Indian team in interim after Rahul Dravid stepped down in 2007. He led the team in just 14 Tests, but his style of leadership and captaincy left many in awe and questioning, why he wasn’t given the helm sooner.

He received much praise from former India opener Gautam Gambhir, who called Kumble as the best captain he played under and he wouldn't have hesitated to give his life for him.

Gambhir recalled an incident when Kumble walked into him and Virender Sehwag before the start of a 4-match Test series against Australia in 2008 and assured them of their spot in the team.

“What a guy! I couldn’t fully dominate him,” Shahid Afridi praises Anil Kumble for his 10/74

"Sehwag and I were having dinner when Kumble walked in and said that you guys will open throughout the series no matter what. Even if you get 8 ducks it doesn't matter. I have never heard such words from anyone in my career. So, if I have to give my life to someone, it would be Anil Kumble. Those words are still in my heart," Gambhir said.

Gambhir credited Kumble’s belief in him for his success in the series, where he slammed a double hundred. "Had he captained India for a longer duration like Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni or Virat Kohli, he would have made many records. He captained in tough series' in Australia and Sri Lanka,” Gambhir said.

The Delhi batsman also opined that Kumble might have picked more wickets if Decision Review System (DRS) technology had been present during his playing days.

"With DRS technology Kumble would have ended up with 900 wickets and Harbhajan with 700 wickets. They missed lbw decisions on front-foot. Bhajju pa took 7 wickets in Cape Town, just imagine. If they would have played on rank-turners opposition would not have been able to make even 100 runs," Gambhir said.

(India Today inputs)