India's former cricket captain and coach Kapil Dev on Thursday congratulated Anil Kumble on equalling his record Test tally of 434 wickets and said the leg-spinner had it in him to become the first Indian to take 500 Test wickets.
"I am sure he is not going to stop here. I can confidently tell you that he is going to become the first Indian to capture 500 Test wickets and go even beyond," Kapil Dev said.
"I am happy he has achieved this feat. And I am more happy that I played alongside him."
Kumble became India's joint highest wicket-taker with Kapil Dev after he claimed four wickets in the second Test against South Africa in Kolkata that India won by eight wickets.
Kapil said the Karnataka bowler had the will to motivate himself after reaching the landmark.
"It will very much depend on his motivation levels. Very often after reaching a milestone, one's motivation goes down.
"But I know Kumble's nature, he does not give up easily. His self determination is well known." Kapil told a TV channel in New Delhi.
Kumble is the first Indian slow bowler so far and only the third spinner overall after Australia's Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan of Sri Lanka to scalp 400 or more Test wickets.
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But the legendary all-rounder said in a jocular vein, "in my opinion he has actually taken more number of Tests. I think he should have done it 10 matches before."
Comparing Kumble with former greats like Bishen Singh Bedi and B S Chandrasekhar, Kapil said that figures speak for Kumble.
"There is no need for me to say (on the matter), the figures speak for themselves. The way he his bowling now, Kumble can go on to take 500 wickets and beyond.
"And he is a proven match winner. He is a role model for the younger generation. And it is the game that has benefited the most because of him."
