Anil Kumble's Man of the Match Awards: A Debut to a Decline in ODIs and Tests

Anil Kumble, a legendary Indian cricketer, earned numerous accolades during his illustrious career. Among these awards, his Man of the Match (MOM) honors in One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Tests are particularly noteworthy. This article delves into the frequency and highlights of his MOM awards, showcasing his dominance on the field.

ODIs: Debut Score and Consistent Excellence

During his debut series against England in 1990, Kumble made an impressive start by receiving his first MOM award in ODIs. This achievement came with remarkable figures of 2/29 in just 10 overs. However, his success in this format grew more consistent in subsequent matches:

1993: Kumble showcased his best figures of the series with 6/12 against West Indies, earning his second MOM award. 1994: In the New Zealand series, he returned with 5/33, adding another MOM to his collection. 1996: Kumble's outstanding performance in the final of the Titan Cup against South Africa fetched him a remarkable 4/25 and a MOM award. 1998: Against Bangladesh, he took 3/17 and was awarded the MOM for his bowling. 2000: Kumble took 2/22 against Kenya, though the MOM award in ODIs became a rarity as he focused more on his captaincy in Tests.

Tests: A Dominant Captain and Bowler

Unlike in ODIs, Kumble's presence in Tests was even more prolific, earning him multiple Man of the Match awards:

1994: In the series against Sri Lanka in Lucknow, Kumble achieved a total of 11 wickets and was awarded the MOM. 1999: He earned two MOM awards in the same year against Pakistan and New Zealand. His efforts included 14 wickets in both innings against Pakistan in Delhi. He also collected 10 wickets against New Zealand in Kanpur. 2001: Against England in Mohali, Kumble took 8 wickets for 133 runs to secure the MOM award. 2002: Kumble's performance in Nagpur against Zimbabwe was noteworthy, earning him 9/145 and the MOM award. 2004: In Chennai, Kumble achieved a phenomenal 13/181 and was crowned Man of the Match against Australia. 2005: Another remarkable performance against Sri Lanka in Delhi earned him 10/157 and the MOM award. 2006: Kumble's fiery display against England at Mohali saw him claim 9/146, which earned him the MOM award. 2007: His last MOM award came during his captaincy, where he took 7/106 in an encounter against Pakistan in Delhi.

Just before his last MOM award in that Test series, Kumble had scored a century against England under Mahela Jayawardene's captaincy, earning the MOM award due to his batting prowess.

These achievements highlight Kumble's consistent performance and versatility as a bowler and occasional batsman. His ability to make significant contributions in both formats of the game places him among the greatest cricketers of all time.