Kumble pips Dhoni, to lead India in Test cricket

MOHALI: Dark horse and veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble on Thursday night pipped Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the race for India's Test captain's job as the selectors sprang a surprise by choosing experience over youth.
    
Kumble will lead India in the three-match Test series against Pakistan, starting on November 22 in Delhi.
    
The 37-year-old leg-spinner, a veteran of 118 Test and 271 one day matches, recently threw his hat in the ring even though Dhoni, skipper of both the Twenty20 and one day squads, seemed front-runner in the race, especially after Sachin Tendulkar -- selectors' first choice for the job -  had turned down the offer.
    
India were without a Test skipper since Rahul Dravid quit the job after leading India to a successful tour of England.
    
Kumble recently expressed his willingness to shoulder the responsibility, saying it would be an honour for him.
    
"I would certainly do the job if asked to. I don't know what the big deal is, why so much is being made of this. I have said this before also," Kumble had said.