Quick facts
| Born | 17 October 1970 |
| Birthplace | Bangalore, Mysore State (now Karnataka), India |
| Role | Right-arm leg-spin bowler, right-handed batter |
| Arjuna Award | 1995 |
| Padma Shri | 2005 |
| ICC Cricket Hall of Fame | 2015 |
Playing career
He made his Test debut against England on 9 August 1990 and his ODI debut against Sri Lanka on 25 April 1990 in the Austral-Asia Cup in Sharjah. He played 132 Tests and took 619 wickets at an average of 29.65. He played 271 ODIs and took 337 wickets at an average of 30.89. His last ODI was against Bermuda on 19 March 2007, and his last Test was against Australia in October 2008.
On 7 February 1999, in Delhi against Pakistan, he took all ten wickets in a Test innings, 10 for 74. He was one of only three bowlers to do so. On 27 November 1993 he took 6 for 12 against the West Indies in the Hero Cup final at Eden Gardens. He was the leading wicket-taker at the 1996 World Cup, with 15 wickets.
He became the second Indian bowler to take 400 Test wickets in October 2004, and on 10 December 2004 he passed Kapil Dev to become India’s highest Test wicket-taker. He took his 500th Test wicket in March 2006 and became the first Indian bowler to take 600 Test wickets in January 2008, against Australia at Perth. He scored his maiden Test century, an unbeaten 110, against England at The Oval in August 2007.
IPL and coaching career
He played for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 to 2010 and captained the team in 2009. He later served as chief mentor for Royal Challengers Bangalore and then for Mumbai Indians. From October 2019 to August 2022 he was head coach and director of cricket operations for Kings XI Punjab, later renamed Punjab Kings.
- Cemented his legendary status as one of cricket's greatest leg-spinners by becoming India's highest Test wicket-taker and one of only three bowlers in history to claim all ten wickets in a single Test innings.
- Accumulated a staggering 956 international wickets, earned prestigious civilian honors including the Padma Shri, and secured his legacy with an induction into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2015.
- Transitioned seamlessly into elite coaching and administrative leadership roles, serving as India's head coach and directing cricket operations for prominent IPL franchises.
He was India’s head coach from 24 June 2016 to 20 June 2017, when he resigned. He chaired the ICC Cricket Committee from 2012 and was elected president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association in November 2010.
Awards and honours
He received the Arjuna Award in 1995, was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1996, received the Padma Shri in 2005, and was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2015.
Net worth
Not publicly estimated.
