Anil Kumble Photo CricInfo

Ace Indian spinner Anil Kumble underwent successful surgery on his right shoulder at a private clinic in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, but he will be out of competitive cricket for up to six months.

The surgery on the shoulder of his bowling arm was performed by orthopaedic surgeon Mark Fergusson, who "found some of the problem in his shoulder was not as bad as feared earlier", according to the Indian team's physiotherapist Andrew Leipus.

Leipus, a South African himself, told PTI: "Kumble is very happy the way the surgery has gone. The recovery will take four to six months. This is a rough guideline. After that, Kumble is expected to be hundred per cent fit although initially he will have some stiffness before he warms up," Leipus said.

The physio, at whose suggestion the spinner came here for the treatment to his shoulder, said: "After the recovery, Kumble is expected to be back to his best and, perhaps, better than before."

Kumble's shoulder problem started during the tri-series in Sharjah last November and he missed India's home series against Zimbabwe towards the year-end.

The surgery will keep India's most successful spinner, with 276 wickets under his belt, out of the home series against Australia starting next month and the Sharjah tri-series, also involving Pakistan and Sri Lanka, after that.

© PTI