Retired Indian captain Anil Kumble says a recent run of injuries influenced his decision to end his glittering Test cricket career.

Kumble, who finished with 619 wickets from 132 Tests, called time on his career after India drew with Australia in the third Test in Delhi on Sunday.

He says it was tough to walk away from Test cricket.

"When you've played 18 years of cricket and when you've been so competitive, to take that decision was tough but the body gave me the decision, and this injury also probably helped my decision," he said.

"I knew I would not be 100 per cent fit for the fourth Test in Nagpur and I did not want to let the team down."

The Indian stalwart, given a lap of honour by his team-mates, said it would have been a fitting farewell had his side won the third Test.

"I shared the dressing room with some of the great players like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and Venkatsai Laxman besides the younger lot like Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan," he said.

"It has been a great experience and a great journey."

India leads the four-Test series 1-0, and Kumble says he is confident the team can secure a series victory without him.

"Delhi has been really special for me, and I thought it fitting to finish here," he said.

"Ideally I would've liked to have finished the series here, but I'm confident that we'll be able to win the series in Nagpur.

Kumble is India's most successful bowler ever. He trails only Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidaran and Australia's retired Shane Warne in the list of the world's highest wicket-takers.

He picked 337 wickets from 271 one-day internationals before quitting the shorter version of the game last year.

Kumble bowled in the first innings in New Delhi despite 11 stitches on his finger, reminding critics calling for his retirement of his resilience and value to the team.

Kumble said he would like to be remembered as someone who excelled despite facing constant flak from critics.

"Criticism started 18 years ago when people said I could not bowl well," he said.

"I am lucky that at least I got the opportunity to announce my retirement though I am still trying to learn how to bowl leg spin," he said in his parting shot at critics.

-ABC/AFP