India's powerful cricket board hastily deleted a birthday message for record Test wicket-taker Anil Kumble yesterday after irate fans took offence at the spinning great being described simply as a "former Team India bowler". The BCCI joined in the well wishes for Kumble's 47th birthday but quickly backtracked after its low-key description sent fans into a spin. "Here's wishing former #TeamIndia bowler @anilkumble1074 a very happy birthday," read the BCCI message on its official Twitter account, before the post was deleted. Fans of Kumble were angered, saying the board was playing down the achievements of India's greatest bowler. "Umm bowler? Wasnt he also Captain and Coach and is India's leading Wicket taker?" replied TV journalist Digvijay Singh Deo on Twitter.

Anil Kumble