It wasn't only the euphoria of taking 500 Test wickets. Anil Kumble, who was later adjudged man of the match, went on to claim nine wickets and enable India score a nine-wicket victory over England in the second Test in Mohali on Monday.
"I wouldn't swap Anil for any other bowler, anywhere," declared India captain Rahul Dravid in gratitude at the end of the match.
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Dravid was all praise for his bowlers and said Kumble and Munaf Patel had set up the game for them by bowling out half the England side on Sunday evening, the fourth day of the match.
"After losing a couple of days to rain a draw was a likely result. But we always knew if we get in our spinners on the fourth and fifth day it would be tough for England. Anil and Munaf bowled fantastically in the last session yesterday and gave us an advantage.
"Of course, Irfan's innings was also crucial. We had our backs to the wall at 150-5. Irfan, Anil and the rest of the guys scored at a quick tempo and helped us force a result."
Dravid admitted that though debutant Piyush Chawla didn't get to bowl enough, the team showed positive attitude by picking five bowlers for the Test.
"We went into the game to take 20 wickets. We saw what difference it made to the England team when they played with five bowlers in the Ashes.
"You have to take a few chances to become a strong team. You need to be flexible in your approach."
Dravid also said his 95 in the first innings was one of his most satisfying knocks.
"It feels good to score runs against one of the best seam attacks we have faced in India. It was a good game of cricket and I don't think the result (India winning by nine wickets) reflects the competitiveness."
The Mumbai Test will be a special occasion for the 33-year-old, since it will mark his 100th Test. He will only become the sixth Indian, after Kapil Dev, Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar and Anil Kumble, to reach the coveted mark.
"It feels great to join a select list of players, some of whom have been my childhood heroes. Some of themÂ… I have been privileged to share the dressing room with. And, hopefully, it will be a good game of cricket."
Though the option of playing five bowlers is open, Dravid wasn't sure whether the team would exercise it in Mumbai.
"If we get a wicket like the one we played against Australia (in 2004), I don't think we'll need five bowlers," he said, with a grin. "But the pitch was good when we played the one-dayer against South Africa last year."
