Keynote SpeakerAnil Kumble

Anil Kumble, nicknamed “Jumbo”, is the former Indian cricketer and former captain of the Indian Test Cricket team (2007-8), and one of the greatest spinners to have ever played the game. The right-arm leg spin bowler, and right-hand batsman, was India’s most effective bowler in both Tests and ODIs. In a career spanning 18 years, Kumble played 132 Tests and 271 ODIs, picking 619 wickets in the former, while claiming 337 in the latter. The veteran bowler retired as the third highest wicket-taker in Tests, behind legends, Muttiah Muralidaran and Shane Warne. He is one of the two bowlers, and the only Indian cricketer in the history of cricket to have taken all 10 wickets in a test innings, the other being Jim Laker of England. As of 2013, he is the leading wicket-taker for India in both Test cricket and One Day International cricket.

Anil Kumble was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian honour, by the Government of India in 2005. Kumble is one of the most recognised cricketing personalities. By combining his close understanding of motivation and self-development with his personal experiences he consistently inspires, motivates and entertains audiences. He understands the dynamics of becoming a champion, how to set goals and take the necessary steps to fulfilling ones potential. Highly entertaining Anil’s tailored presentations are filled with anecdotes from his career. After making his first-class debut in the 1989-90 season, Kumble quickly tasted success, making his Test debut in August 1990 versus England. He took his first 50 wickets in just ten matches, the fastest an Indian bowler achieved that milestone, and took his hundredth in just his 21st match. Alongside Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumble was the third component of the spin revolution of the 1990s that revitalised slow bowling as an attacking option, after the dominance of pace in the 1970s and 1980s. His greatest bowling feat came against Pakistan in New Delhi in 1999 when he took 10-74.

In 2007 Kumble was made Indian captain. In the series against Pakistan he promptly led India to its first home series win against Pakistan for 27 years. In all, he played 132 Tests, captaining his country on 14 occasions. He got more batsmen out leg before wicket– 156 times – and produced more caught and bowled dismissals than any other bowler. In the final test of the 2007 series against England, Kumble finally scored his maiden Test century, thereby becoming the only man to score a Test hundred and take all ten wickets in an innings. His 118-game wait for his hundred meant he broke Chaminda Vaas’ record of 96 tests before scoring a Test century. After having played for 18 years, he announced his retirement from International cricket on 2 November 2008.

His last match was against Australia at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in Delhi. His retirement from International cricket, however, didn’t stop him from participating in the Indian Premier League in 2008. He led the Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009 and thereafter took on the mentoring role at the franchise. In 2013, Kumble shifted allegiance to the Mumbai Indians as chief mentor. Kumble was appointed to the athlete’s commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2009, and was chairman of the National Cricket Academy 2010-2011. He announced his retirement from Indian Premier League on 4 January 2012, and in October he was appointed the chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC)’s committee.

Between 2012 and 2015, Kumble held positions as a chief mentor for the teams Royal Challengers Bangalore and Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. He was also a former head coach of the Indian cricket team as well. In February 2015, he became the fourth Indian cricketer to be inducted into ICC Hall of Fame. Kumble is currently the Head Coach and the Director of Cricket Operations of Kings XI Punjab