On This Day: Anil Kumble's 10-wicket haul against Pakistan turns 21 (Video)

On This Day, in 1999, Anil Kumble scripted history as he became just the second bowler to claim all 10 wickets in an innings after England's Jim Laker.

Laker, who achieved the feat against Australia in 1956, bagged the figures of 10 for 53. Similarly, even India's spinner Kumble reached the milestone against arch-rival.

Kumble's 10 for 74 in 26.3 overs boosted India to a 212-run win - their biggest victory in Tests against Pakistan. The match was played in Delhi and the victory was crucial as it levelled the two-Test series 1-1 after India lost the opening match in Chennai. The tensions of soon to begin Kargil War added to the drama in the Test series between the neighbouring nations.

A determined India, after losing the first Test, opted to bat in Delhi. But, they did not have the best starts as they managed only 252 runs on the board in the first innings. IN reply, Pakistan batsmen also struggled, especially against the spin duo of Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who ended up sharing as many as seven wickets between them. Inside 65 overs, Pakistan got bundled out for 172.

India's next innings was then carried forward on half-centuries from Sadgopan Ramesh (96) and Sourav Ganguly (62*) as they posted a target of 420 for Pakistan. With almost two days in hand, the visitors were off to a decent start. The opening batsman Shahid Afridi and Saeed Anwar put up 100 runs and went for lunch at 101 for no loss.

Soon after the play resumed, Indian wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia grabbed a sharp catch to dismiss Afridi before one-down batsman Ijaz Ahmed got out for a golden duck. Suddenly, Kumble was on a hat-trick. While he did not get the hat-trick, he removed Inzamam-ul-Haq a few overs later. The Pakistani line-up had no answer to Kumble's bowling as it slowly began to crumble. Two deliveries later, Mohammad Yousuf was also sent packing after he lasted for only two balls.

"A 'Perfect Ten' isn't something you set out to achieve as a cricketer. I would attribute the events of 7th February 1999 to destiny," Kumble told in an interview with the BCCI website in 2014.

When Kumble was asked in an interview how he celebrates the day when it comes around every year and if he thinks anyone can match the accomplishment in the future, the former Indian skipper responded," It's one of those things which happen. It's nice to celebrate anniversaries of cricketing milestones but if it happens it happens."

Kumble, who made his India debut in 1990, went on to win 403 caps for his country (132 in Tests and 271 in ODIs). His decorated international career spanned across 18 years and he bowed out with close to 1,000 wickets across the formats but will always be cherished for his contribution to the longest format of the game.

The legendary spinner, who announced retirement in 2008, finished with 619 wickets in Tests. He has the third-highest number of wickets in the red-ball game, only behind Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Australia's Shane Warne (708).