Indian skipper Anil Kumble's retirement struck Feroz Shah Kotla like lightning when the third cricket Test against Australia was about to be recorded as a draw here on Sunday. Around the time, as VVS Laxman's fifty went on the board, the announcement of Kumble's retirement was also being flashed.

Team India Test skipper Anil Kumble took the cricketing fraternity by surprise, announcing his retirement from international cricket midway through the series against Australia. Kumble decided to retire from international cricket with immediate effect, bringing the curtains down on India's most successful bowler ever in both Tests and one-day international.

The giant screens at the stadium flashed a one-liner saying: 'Anil Kumble has decided to retire after this match and will not travel to Nagpur for the final Test'.

"(Kumble) has conveyed his decision to the Delhi association president that he will retire after the game and will make his formal announcement after the match," an Indian official said.

Kumble had been facing mounting questions over his future and missed the second Test against the Aussies in Mohali due to a shoulder injury. He also suffered a finger injury in the Delhi Test and only returned to bowl after having 11 stitches.

In 1999, Kumble became only the second bowler in Test cricket to claim all 10 wickets in an innings, emulating England's Jim Laker at the same Ferozshah Kotla ground.

Tendulkar became the highest run scorer in test cricket history earlier in the series, which India leads 1-0 ahead of the fourth and last match starting Thursday.