Leading Indian wicket-taker Anil Kumble on Friday brushed aside criticism over his unique bowling style, saying he is a leg-spinner with a difference.
"I'm somebody who is different from an orthodox leg-spinner," Kumble said after surpassing Kapil Dev's Indian record of 434 Test wickets during the opening match against Bangladesh.
"There's a feeling that you'll be successful only if you do things in a certain way, but I don't agree with that. I'm happy that even with my style I've been able to get results.
"At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what style you bowl."
Kumble is not a huge turner of the ball like Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne or Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. He relies more on his subtle variations and speed through the air.
Add to these his accuracy and he becomes a bowler batsmen fear and respect all over the world.
"As long as I'm defined as a bowler I'm happy," said Kumble, Test cricket's fifth-highest wicket-taker with 436 victims in 91 matches.
Only Warne (552), Muralitharan (532), retired West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh (519) and Australian Glenn McGrath (463) are ahead of the Indian.
{{/usCountry}}Only Warne (552), Muralitharan (532), retired West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh (519) and Australian Glenn McGrath (463) are ahead of the Indian.
{{/usCountry}}