India Test skipper Anil Kumble Sunday took the cricketing fraternity by surprise, announcing his retirement from international cricket midway through the series against Australia. The ongoing third Test at Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here will be Kumble’s last outing and he would not play in the fourth and final Test at Nagpur.

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, who has been going through a form slump missed the second Test at Mohali due to a shoulder injury, bowled Saturday with his injured left-hand heavily bandaged.

The leg-spinner is the highest wicket-taker for India with 619 wickets in 132 Tests.