Former India captain legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble turned 47 on Tuesday - the day of Dhanteras, which marks the beginning of the five-day Diwali festivities. Kumble, who served as India's coach for a year before Ravi Shastri took over in July this year, is regarded as India's greatest match-winner as no bowler in history has won India more Test matches than the 'Jumbo', as he is famously called.
Kumble is the second bowler and the first and only Indian in the history of Test cricket to take 10 wickets in an innings - a feat which he achieved against Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla in February 1999.
Kumble, who has captured 619 wickets in 132 Tests, was an epitome of sportsmanship and displayed a fighter-like approach every time he donned the India shirt. One of the most memorable moments of his career was when he bowled against the West Indies with a bandage over his broken jaw at St John's in May 2002. With 956 wickets, Kumble is third in the all-time top international wicket takers list
He also has one Test century to his name which came against England at The Oval in 2007.
Many former and present India cricketers took to Twitter to wish Kumble on his birthday.
His former teammate Virender Sehwag, who is known for his witty and unique birthday wishes on Twitter, described kumble as "one of India's greatest Dhan" on the occasion of Dhanteras.
Meanwhile, batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar said: "You have been an inspiration for generations together and will continue to be one."
