Kumble optimistic of making SA tour

Indian spin ace Anil Kumble, who returned to full-fledged competitive cricket on Wednesday after a nine-month injury lay-off, expressed confidence of being 100 per cent fit before India's tour to South Africa in October.

"I am 80 per cent fit now and confident of being totally fit in two months," Kumble, who is leading the Karnataka State Cricket Association XI in the ongoing KSCA Diamond Jubilee All India Tournament in Bangalore, told reporters.

But Kumble will have to wait a bit longer to bowl, as on the rain-curtailed opening day of the three-day fixture on Wednesday, Andhra won the toss and put KSCA into bat. KSCA were 117 for two at stumps.

Kumble, who is returning to competitive cricket for the first time after withdrawing midway through a one-day series in Sharjah in October and shoulder surgery in Johannesburg in January, has been bowling 20 to 30 overs a day and hopes to regain his form soon.

The leg spinner has taken 276 wickets from 61 Tests and is now looking forward to cross the 300 mark.

Mail Cricket Editor