Anil Kumble's top ODI bowling performances of all time

India's legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble turned 49 on Thursday and is widely considered to be one of the greatest bowlers of all time. A right-arm leg spin (leg break googly) bowler, Kumble played 270 ODIs for India. He took 337 wickets in his career which is the highest by any Indian bowler till date. Hence, his magic encompassed not only in Test cricket but also in limited over matches. 

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1) 6/12 vs West Indies (1993)

The final of the Hero Cup was played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata in 1993. Chasing a total of 225 runs, India needed something special to clinch victory. Enter Kumble and he ended up with 6-12, which were the best figures by any Indian bowler in ODI cricket at the time. 

He hastened West Indies' demise by getting rid of the lower order, as they collapsed from 101-5 to 123 all out. His magical spell ensured that India lifted the 1993 Hero Cup.

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2) 5/33 vs New Zealand (1994)

In an ODI against New Zealand in Wellington in 1994, India had set a target of 256 for the Kiwis to win. However, it was Kumble who gave the visitors the last laugh with a spell of 5-33 in 10 overs. The match went down to the wire as India eventually won by 12 runs. Kumble's dismissals included the likes of Chris Harris and Adam Parore.

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4) 4/25 against South Africa

Kumble slandered the South African side at the Wankhede Stadium in the Titan Cup final in 1996 in Mumbai. After batting first, India could only come up with a modest score of 225. However, Kumble stepped up on the biggest stage once again as he dismissed Jonty Rhodes, Gary Kirsten, DJ Richardson and Allan Donald in a fine spell of 4-25. India won the match by 35 runs.

4) 3/35 vs West Indies (1996)

In 1996, India played West Indies in their World Cup encounter at the Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior. India won the match by 5 wickets by chasing down 174 and it was predominantly due to Kumble's spell of 3-35. He bowled the likes of Ric Bolder, Ottis Gibson and Roger Harper in what proved to be a memorable spell.

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5) 3/48 against Pakistan (1996)

Kumble was by far India's top bowler in the 1996 World Cup. In the quarterfinal match against Pakistan at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the spinner took three crucial wickets. He conceded 48 runs in the spell. India won the match by 39 runs. 

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