Gritty Anil Kumble's top five rearguard batting

3. 58 vs England (England in India, Nagpur, 2006)

England had managed to get a huge first innings total of 393. In reply, only Jaffer and Dravid were able to get some runs under their belt from the top order, and the score read 190/7 at one stage when Kaif was there at the crease and Jumbo walked in. India were staring at a huge trail to follow after the first innings itself, but Kumble had other ideas. He played the supporting role, and strung a 128-run stand to help India get past the 300-mark. Kumble scored a half-century and hit 10 boundaries, favouring the region square of the wicket on the off-side and the third-man region.

Sourav Ganguly had not been picked for this particular test match, and the effect did show on India’s batting. But the life-saver partnership between Kumble and Kaif ensured that England did not get a huge 1^st innings lead and the game which, many felt before this partnership, could have gone their way eventually ended in a draw.