Kumble wants to be match-winner

The leggie, who picked a 'perfect ten' when the Pak team last visited India for a Test series, wants to play the role of match-winner again.

Ace leg spinner Anil Kumble, who picked a 'perfect ten' when the Pakistan team last visited India for a Test series, wants to play the role of match-winner once again in the upcoming encounter against the arch-rivals.

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"I just want to go there, bowl and get wickets and hopefully, win matches," India's highest Test wicket-taker said when asked about his personal goal in the series.

Kumble said Pakistan would miss fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who has opted out of the Test series, but stressed that any India-Pakistan match was not limited to individuals.

"Any India-Pakistan Test series is not just about any individual. Cricket is about team sport. Obviously, Pakistan will miss Shoaib as he is a key bowler. But I don't think the charm will be taken away (because of his absence)."

He said it was the media that gave the Indo-Pak encounters last year the tag of friendship series.

"Any cricket match is fierce competition. It's the media which gave it tag of friendship series. At the end of the day, we go out there to win matches. Definitely, it's going to be challenging and exciting series."

Kumble said he was looking forward to the challenge of playing the series against the arch-rivals.

"Every India-Pakistan match is challenging. I am looking forward to the challenge."