Top 10 Bowling Spells by Indian Bowlers That Changed The Course of Game

India is a cricket loving or we should say a batting loving country. Thus, we tend to remember the runs over wickets and knocks above spells. We have always look forward to the batting department with all the zeal. Therefore, the bowling unit has taken a backstage in our following of the game.

However, there are some fine bowling spells that have helped the Indian team in winning the matches. The talismanic bowlers have been instrumental in changing the course of the game.

After all, it is well said that in cricket terms that, “Batsmen wins you games while bowlers win you tournament”.

Here are the Top 10 Bowling Spells by Indian Bowlers That Changed The Course of Game.

10. Anil Kumble ran through the Pakistan innings.

Anil Kumble went on to write his name in the history books when he took all ten Pakistan wickets in the second Test match in Delhi in 1999. Consequently, India went on to win that match by 212 runs.

Furthermore, the former Indian skipper scalped four wickets in the first innings. Thus, Kumble joined England’s Jim Laker to achieve the unique feat of taking all the ten wickets in an innings. In fact, only these two bowlers have achieved this milestone in the folklore of Test cricket.

9. Harbhajan Singh 13 wickets in the Famous Kolkata Test

When we talk about the famous 2001 Kolkata Test, we remember the big contribution of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. However, we fail to notice the big role played by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

The offie scalped 13 wickets (which includes 7 wickets for 123 in the first innings while 6 wickets for 73 in the second) in the second Test. Harbhajan was right on the money and played his part in bundling out the Australians for 212 in the second innings. Harbhajan became the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in the Test match history.

This was the third time in Test match history when a team had won a match after being asked to follow-on. The match is remembered as the all-time greatest in the red ball form.

8. Ajit Agarkar 6-41 in the Adelaide Test

The 2003 Adelaide Test match is once again famous for the partnership of VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid. Both the batters had repeated their Kolkata Test match heroics on the Australian soil.

However, experienced Ajit Agarkar was instrumental in skittling out the hosts for a paltry 196 in the second innings. The fast bowler bowled with great control in the second innings and India was able to bounce back. However, Agarkar scalped only two wickets in the first innings.

Rahul Dravid scored 233 and unbeaten 72 to take India over the line. Adelaide victory is also regarded as India’s best ever on the foreign soil.

7. Ashish Nehra 6-23 in 2003 World Cup against England.

Ashish Nehra was on song as he scalped the best figures by an Indian bowler in a World Cup match. India was playing some brilliant cricket in the 2003 World Cup and Nehra was able to get his line and length at the correct place.

Consequently, the southpaw Delhi bowler was able to borne fruits for his accurate bowling. Nehra tormented the England batting line-up as they were dismissed over a mundane score of 168 in reply to India’s 250 runs.

India ended up as the runners-up of the 2003 World Cup.

6. Ishant Sharma 2-36 against England in Champions Trophy.

Sometimes a spell of two wickets can also change the course of the game. England was well on their way to victory when MS Dhoni handed over the ball to Ishant Sharma in the 2013 Champions Trophy final.

The lanky fast bowler took two wickets of well-settled batsmen in Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan to get back India into the action. India went on to win by just 5 runs when they had their backs against the wall. In fact, at one stage England needed 18 runs off 15 balls. However, they could not get home because of Ishant Sharma’s heroics with the ball.

Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin scalped two wickets each in the same match.

5. Stuart Binny 6 wickets against Bangladesh in Dhaka.

Stuart Binny is often trolled for his all-rounder skills. However, Binny holds one of the best figures in the ODI format which is best by an Indian bowler. The right-hander had taken six wickets and conceded only four runs in his 4.4 overs against Bangladesh.

India was reduced to a paltry score of 105 runs by the Bangladesh bowlers in the 41 overs match. Mohit Sharma gave early jolts to the hosts and Stuart Binny was able to capitalize as got the ball to swing and seam. The host’s batters looked clueless and India cruised to 47 runs win by D/L method.

4. Sreesanth 5-40 vs South Africa in 2006

Sreesanth was at the top of his game in 2006 against the South African side. The Kerala fast bowler was able to get the swing at a good pace and breathed down the Proteas batsmen neck.

India had a perfect start to the South African tour when they won the first Test match at Johannesburg. Sreesanth obliterated the South African batting line-up for an ordinary 84 runs in the first innings. The pacer took 5 for 40 in the first innings to go with three wickets in the second.

Thus, India was able to take a 1-0 lead by winning the opening Test by 123 runs.

3. Narendra Hirwani Heroics on Debut against West Indies.

Narendra Hirwani shot himself into the limelight in 1988 against West Indies in Chennai. The leg-spinner took eight wickets in both the innings to claim the best figures of 16 for 136 in the debut match.

Thus, India went on to win the fourth Test match by a huge margin of 255 runs. However, Hirwani early magic faded away as he managed to scalp 66 wickets in the 17 Test matches. The leg break bowler took 23 wickets in the 18 One-Dayers he played for the Men in Blue.

Hirwani still holds the record for the best bowling figures on debut.

2. Anil Kumble 6-12 vs West Indies in Hero Cup Final.

Anil Kumble was able to run through a potent West Indies batting line-up in 1993 Hero Cup Final. India had put 225 runs on the board and leg-spinner fine spell gave a 102 runs win to the Indian team.

Kumble’s record for best figures stood for a long after it was broken by Stuart Binny against Bangladesh. The leg-spinner was accurate with his line and length. Thus, the control and discipline in line were instrumental in his successful career.

1. Murali Kartik 6 for 27 against Australia in 2007.

Murali Kartik was able to bamboozle the Australians in 2007. The southpaw spinner was able to take six wickets to bundle out the Australians for 193 runs. Kartik made most of the Mumbai spinning conditions to trouble the Aussies batsmen.

Furthermore, Kartik also contributed with the bat as scored an unbeaten 21 to take India over the line by two wickets. However, India lost the series by 4-2.