An IPL spell that still whispers in the winds of 2009 – tight, timeless, and totally unforgettable
It was April 18, 2009 and the Indian Premier League had just arrived in South Africa, brought there by political winds back home. On a breezy evening in Cape Town, as fans settled in for the second match of the tournament—Royal Challengers Bangalore versus Rajasthan Royals—there was little to suggest the wizardry about to unfold.
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It wasn’t Dale Steyn’s raw pace or Yusuf Pathan’s booming shots that would steal the show. No, the night belonged to a man in his late thirties, bowling with sleeves rolled up, eyes calm, and fingers full of guile. That man was Anil Kumble.
RCB had posted a modest 133/8. Rajasthan Royals, the defending champions, fancied their chances. But by the time Kumble was handed the ball, the Royals were already teetering at 28 for 4. What followed was carnage—slow, silent, and completely suffocating.
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In just 3.1 overs, Kumble took 5 wickets for only 5 runs. He didn’t just dismantle the Royals’ line-up—he smothered them. The economy rate? A miserly 1.57. Of the 19 balls he bowled, 14 were dot balls. Not a single boundary came off his bowling. In fact, Rajasthan’s innings lasted only 91 balls, with five of those dismissals featuring Kumble’s fingerprints all over them.
The first to fall into the trap was Yusuf Pathan. Attempting to muscle Kumble over long-off, he only managed to locate Jesse Ryder. One ball later, Ravindra Jadeja attempted a slog sweep—another misjudged stroke—and this time, Virat Kohli dashed in to catch it.
Then came Shane Warne. The master against the master. Kumble tossed it up, Warne charged and missed, and Uthappa did the rest. At 53 for 8, it was just a matter of time.
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Munaf Patel swung hard but ended up miscuing the ball to long-on. Kamran Khan’s edge off a flighted delivery ended Rajasthan’s misery at 58 all out—the lowest IPL total at that time.
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At that moment, Anil Kumble's fifer ranked as the second-best in IPL history, only behind Sohail Tanvir’s 6 for 14. Yet among Indian bowlers, especially spinners, Kumble’s spell has remained exceptional—then and even now, as the 2025 season unfolds.
Kumble wasn’t even the captain that day; he had retired from international cricket a few months earlier. He wasn’t supposed to lead the bowling charts or create drama. But like all great artists, he demonstrated that class never clocks out. On a pitch that offered bounce and bite, Kumble didn’t turn the ball square—he turned the match inside out.
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While Rahul Dravid earned the Player of the Match for his elegant 66, those who watched the game will tell you that it was Kumble who sealed it. Rajasthan never got going. They were blown away by a storm that moved at 50km/h but struck with the force of a cyclone.
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Years have passed. The IPL has witnessed hat-tricks, six-fests, and economy-defying spells. Yet, Kumble’s fifer still remains in the record books. Among Indian bowlers with five-wicket hauls, only a handful have matched his control and economy.
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Even in 2025, as mystery spinners and wrist wizards illuminate the tournament, Kumble’s 5 for 5 stands as a gold standard.
