India-England Test XI of the modern era (last 25 years)

Spinner

#8 Anil Kumble

Kumble is India's most successful bowler in either format of the game

Anil Kumble was not the ideal definition of a spinner. While Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan mastered the art of turning the ball prodigiously, Kumble lagged far behind in that aspect.

He was even derided at times for not being able to spin the ball. However, all this did not prevent Kumble from becoming one of the most prolific wicket-takers in the history of cricket. He is one of the three bowlers to breach the 600 wicket barrier in tests with the other two being the aforementioned spin greats.

Even his harshest critics will at least grudgingly agree to one point - that this unassuming man from Bengaluru is the country's greatest bowler of all time. In our team, Kumble will have to bear the entire burden of spin on his shoulders.

Other contenders for this role are Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin and Graeme Swann but it takes a cruel heart to go beyond test cricket's third highest wicket-taker.

Matches: 132, Wickets: 619, Average: 29.65.