Anil Kumble Reminisces A Moment That Remains Very Close To His Heart—His 600th Test Wicket During 2008 Perth Win

January 17, 2025: Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble took to social media on Friday to reflect on one of the most significant moments in his cricketing career — taking his 600th Test wicket during India’s 2008 Perth Test against Australia. Kumble shared a picture of his wicket celebration from that match and expressed how much the moment means to him, calling it a “very close” achievement in his journey.

The 2007-08 tour to Australia remains iconic for India, not only for Kumble’s personal feat but also for the historic victory at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground in Perth. Despite losing the series 2-1, India became the first and only Asian team to win a Test match at the venue, making the moment even more special for Kumble.

In his post on X (formerly Twitter), Kumble said, “Came across this picture and it just took me back to 2008, a moment that is very close to me – reaching 600 Test wickets. Celebrating the Test match win at Perth was the icing on the cake. Forever grateful for that journey and to all those who played a part in it on and off the field.”

Kumble’s 600th wicket came on this very day in 2008, during a match where he led India. In that game, he claimed four wickets, two in each innings, helping India defeat Australia by 72 runs. Kumble became the first Indian bowler to reach the 600-wicket mark in Test cricket, cementing his place as one of the all-time greats.

Throughout the match, India’s pacers, particularly RP Singh and Ishant Sharma, played a crucial role in dismissing Australia for 212 in the first innings. India then set a challenging target of 413 runs in the fourth innings, which Australia could not reach despite solid contributions from Michael Clarke and Mitchell Johnson.

Kumble’s milestone came during the final series of his career, as he retired from international cricket later in 2008 after amassing 619 wickets in 132 Tests. His illustrious career spanned across all formats, with a total of 953 wickets in 401 matches.

Kumble’s legacy is not only marked by his record-breaking statistics but also by his leadership and contributions to Indian cricket. He remains the only Indian to have taken all 10 wickets in a Test innings, a rare feat that adds to the esteem in which he is held in the cricketing world.