Describing Anil Kumble, the latest member of the 500 Test wicket club, as a "world class" spinner, former India captain Bishan Singh Bedi - himself a master of the art in his days - opined the leggie can match Shane Warne.
"Kumble has the potential and he can match Shane Warne. Kumble, despite once dislocating his shoulder, recovered and is determined to go on,' he said.
Bedi admitted he did not think Kumble would go so far when the Karnataka leggie came into the scene.
"When Kumble made his debut in 1990 at Manchester against England, he never looked like to perform so brilliantly. He decimates batsmen with his accuracy," he observed.
Kumble on Saturday scalped the last three English wickets to reach the milestone while recording his 32nd five-wicket haul.
His victims included Geraint Jones, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar.
Other players who have captured 500 or more wickets are Shane Warne (659), Muralitharan (600), Glenn McGarth (542) and Courtney Walsh (519).
Dronacharya award winning coach Desh Prem Azad congratulated Kumble on this occasion and said, "It is a remarkable feat by Kumble who is the second spinner from Asia to capture 500 or more wickets in Tests. I am proud of his achievement. God willing, Anil will also cross the 600 mark."
{{/usCountry}}Dronacharya award winning coach Desh Prem Azad congratulated Kumble on this occasion and said, "It is a remarkable feat by Kumble who is the second spinner from Asia to capture 500 or more wickets in Tests. I am proud of his achievement. God willing, Anil will also cross the 600 mark."
{{/usCountry}}BCCI Joint Secretary MP Pandove also congratulated Kumble for achieving the feat and hoped the bowler would go further.
"It is a wonderful achievement by an Indian spinner who has been playing for the last 16 years. Kumble is a rare spinner, playing for such a long time and still going strong. Taking three wickets in the last over in Mohali was very remarkable," he said.