The Delhi Test of Pakistan's historic 1999 series in India is remembered for the home team's magnificent comeback after losing in Chennai and that too with the great Anil Kumble taking all ten wickets in the second innings, becoming only the second men's bowler in the history of the game to do so behind England's Jim Laker.
But what also remains etched in memory is the selfless act of pacer Javagal Srinath for his friend and teammate, Kumble, as he ran in and delivered an entire over wide outside the off-stump to ensure the leg-spinner can take his 10th wicket.
Recalling that during an Instagram chat with former Zimbabwe pacer Pommie Mbangwa, Kumble said he was moved by Srinath's over and felt he must finish the game off quickly. Otherwise, his Karnataka mate would've had to roll his arm over again without trying to get the final wicket.
"After tea, I got 7, 8 and 9. And finished my over and Javagal Srinath had to bowl one, that was probably the toughest he had to bowl," Kumble said.
"He had to unlearn all his skills and bowl wide. But I didn’t ask him, believe me. I thought, ‘Let’s give Wasim a single.’ But I thought I had to get one that over, because it would have been embarrassing to ask one more. I was just destined. One down in a series, against Pakistan, just so special."
Having lost narrowly at Chepauk despite Sachin Tendulkar's legendary innings and 1-0 down in a series curiously allocated just two Tests, India must've felt worried when Pakistan openers Saeed Anwar and Shahid Afridi put up 101 in the chase of 420.
However, once Kumble dismissed Afridi, it started a procession, as the rest of the innings saw Pakistan batsmen struggle against those coming in and jumping across after pitching on a worn-out surface.
The then India skipper Mohammed Azharuddin prudently kept his premier spinner on from one end till the last wicket, which Kumble took of the opposition captain Wasim Akram to rewrite record books.
"It’s like it happened yesterday for me. It was special. It was pressure because Pakistan came to India after so long. We had to win at Kotla to square the series. I think I am most effective when the wicket is two-paced and there is uneven bounce," said Kumble.
"Till lunch, Pakistan had got off to a great start. I knew it was a matter of one wicket. After lunch, I changed ends. I got 1, then 2, and then it went on and on. I bowled non-stop from lunch to tea, but I was getting tired. I knew I had a great chance to better my previous best because I was six on six," he concluded.
