Kumble set to quit ODIs after WC

Champion spin bowler Anil Kumble, will most probably play his last one-day match in Indian colours during the 2007 World Cup.

Kumble, 36, made his ODI debut in 1990 and has since played in 270 matches in his 17 year career, taking over 300 wickets, putting him in the top seven highest wicket takers in one-day international history.

“I am not looking at playing one-dayers after the World Cup. It is the biggest stage in cricket where all the teams and leading players compete and it would be nice to finish with that,” he told The Hindu

“If you look at the calendar after the World Cup, there are a lot of Tests as well as one-dayers and it will be taxing to play both.

“It is tough. I have had my fair share and I am not getting any younger. I don’t think I will play one-dayers after the World Cup.

Kumble, India’s highest wicket-taker in both Tests and ODIs, also said his side has a very good chance of winning cricket’s most prestigious prize, the World Cup.

“I think we can go all the way up there. We have the talent and we do have a good combination. And at an individual level I do hope to have a bigger role to play within the team and I hope to contribute to the team’s success,” he said.

India will kick start their World Cup campaign on the 17th of March, playing Bangladesh in Port of Spain, Trinidad.