Perfect 10: Anshul Kamboj makes history

Haryana pacer Anshul Kamboj entered the record books on Friday as he became only the third bowler in the history of Ranji Trophy to claim all 10 wickets in an innings. Kamboj, 23, achieved the feat in the home team’s Group C game against Kerala.

Kamboj ended with incredible figures of 10/49 in 30.1 overs. It must be mentioned that Kamboj was very close to getting selected for India A’s tour of Australia but a senior member of the coaching staff was more keen on having a hit-the-deck bowler in Navdeep Saini, who is also a few miles quicker compared to Haryana man.

Kamboj, who had played three IPL matches for Mumbai Indians last season, was recently part of the Indian team at the Emerging Asia Cup in Oman. He also had an impressive Duleep Trophy. He was sent to the Emerging Asia Cup after the selectors couldn’t slot him for the Australia A tour.

While the green top at Lahli during the months of November and December is a seam and swing bowler’s paradise but no credit is enough for Kamboj, a Rohtak farmer’s son. Kamboj was able to move the ball both ways, keeping it on top of off-stump. He had taken eight wickets by the end of second day and equalled the record on the third morning.

Premangshu Chatterjee of Bengal (10/20 vs Assam, 1956) and Pradeep Sundaram of Rajasthan (10/78 vs Vidarbha, 1985) are the other two bowlers to have taken 10 wickets in an innings in the country’s premier domestic tournament.

Overall, Kamboj is the sixth Indian bowler to grab a 10-wicket haul in First-Class cricket. The legendary Anil Kumble, Subhash Gupte and Debashish Mohanty are the others on the list.