5. 24 wickets against Australia in 2003-04 series:
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly once revealed that Anil Kumble was nearly dropped for their famous tour to Australia in 2003-04. But Ganguly fought hard with the selectors to ensure that the ace leg-spinner was a part of the squad for the tour.
According to Ganguly, the selectors were keen for a left-arm spinner Murali Kartik for the tour but on Ganguly’s insistence Kumble was taken and he repaid the faith shown in him by his captain by claiming 24 wickets, the highest in the series with India retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after drawing the series 1-1.