WATCH: On this day | Anil Kumble scripted history, becoming only second bowler to scalp 10 wickets in an innings

On this day, Anil Kumble took 10 wickets. (Source: Twitter)

In over 14 and a half decades of Test cricket, only three bowlers have claimed all ten wickets in an innings. Englishman Jim Laker achieved this in the mid-1950s, Anil Kumble just before the dawn of the new millennium, while New Zealand's Mumbai-born spinner Ajaz Patel became the third bowler to do so last year.

Interestingly enough, Anil Kumble became the only second bowler to achieve this feat on today's exact date in 1999. Here's a throwback to the magical spell.

Playing the second Test of the series in Delhi, India put up a moderate first-innings total of 252, which did not look enough against a reasonably strong visiting Pakistani batting line-up. However, India's spin duo, Kumble and Harbhajan Singh bowled with a lot of heart and made the total seem much larger than it actually was.

Here's a video of the historic spell:

On this day in 1999, Anil Kumble took all 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/HsD3eOSruq

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 7, 2023

Shahid Afridi remained Pakistan's highest scorer with 33

Only the opening batter, Shahid Afridi, got past the individual score of 30 runs, and Pakistan was dismissed for 172, giving the hosts a crucial first-innings lead of 80 runs. The visitors were eventually set the daunting task of scoring over 400 runs to win the Test.

The fourth innings was Kumble's stage to shine. At 101 for no loss, the visitors looked likely to feast on the stern chase, but Kumble had slightly different plans. In the 25th over, Shahid Afridi was dismissed, and one ball later, Ijaz Ahmed was shown the way to the pavilion, starting the sequence of a Pakistani batting collapse.

In the 29th over, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Pakistan's pillar in crucial tests, was bowled, and a couple of balls later, Yousuf Youhana was out lbw. Moin Khan fell in the 37th over, and Saeed Anwar's long vigil of 128 balls ended in the 39th. When Saleem Malik was dismissed with 186 runs on the board, everyone on the ground and those following the match realised that there could be a unique record at the end of this game.

Within roughly 6 more overs, Kumble wrapped it all up. He got Mustaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq out with consecutive deliveries, while the former batter had his furnitures hit; the latter was caught lbw. Kumble was on a hattrick, but Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram ensured that Kumble did not get to the landmark with a hattrick ball. Instead, Kumble had to wait for another over before getting an inside edge to a defensive stroke from Akram in the third ball of the 61^st over. The ball fell kindly for VVS Laxman to complete the catch, and history was scripted.