India captain Anil Kumble revealed injuries were the reason behind his decision to retire from international cricket.

The 38-year-old announced he was quitting with immediate effect on Sunday morning as India were held to a draw in the third Test against Australia in New Delhi. Kumble missed most of that game with a finger injury, having already sat out the second Test with a shoulder problem, and said it would not have been fair to try to play on when not fully fit.

"It's always tough when you've played 18 years of international cricket," he said.

"It would have been ideal if we had won this Test match. But the body was certainly asking me questions every day," he added.

"It was not easy to keep bowling the way I have done over the last 18 years. The finger injury on the third day probably helped me make this decision.

"I'd already decided to leave after the series anyway but this injury made it happen sooner."

A veteran of 131 Tests and 619 wickets, Kumble had been under intense pressure to retire following a lean time in the three-Test series in Sri Lanka in July this year. His performance had dipped considerably from the high standards set since he made his debut as a bespectacled and studious-looking bowler in August 1990.

"Criticism is part and parcel for any sportsman," he said. "I haven't taken this decision based on people saying I should or should not play. This criticism started 18 years ago when people said I could not play two Test matches for India. Looking back, I've done pretty well. I always had a strong belief in my abilities.

"There are different phases when you play as long as I did. It was tough for me in the early part of my career especially with people raising questions about my ability, my fitness, my form and the effectiveness of my bowling.

"I had to go through that at the end of my career as well. I said three or four months ago I would make the call based on what my body tells me. At this point in time, I don't think I can go through the grind of playing Test cricket."