Best Bowling Figures By Indian Bowlers vs South Africa In Tests

The ongoing second Test match between India and South Africa is currently hanging in balance. After India were bowled out for a 202-run total, Dean Elgar and Keegan Peterson showed great grit and determination in the first hour of the second day’s play. The match was slipping down from India’s hands until Shardul Thakur came into the attack.

The fourth seamer in India’s pace-attack, Shardul Thakur picked three quick wickets before Lunch to get India back into the game. He picked his first five-wicket haul and ended up picking a seven-for, thereby helping his team bundle South Africa out for 229 runs.

Thakur’s heroic spell received praise from all quarters. Picking seven wickets in a single innings against South Africa in Test Cricket isn’t a small feat. Not a lot of Indians have managed to do that against South Africa in Test Cricket. And, on that note, let’s take a look at the best bowling figures by Indian bowlers against South Africa in Test Cricket.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Best Bowling Figures By Indian Bowlers vs South Africa in Tests

5. Ravichandran Ashwin: 7/145 against South Africa in 2019

The first Test between India and South Africa in 2019 at Visakhapatnam is fondly remembered for Ravichandran Ashwin’s heroic spell. After India had notched a mammoth 502-run total in the first innings, South Africa needed to bat well to stay in the game.

Dean Elgar played a stellar 160-run knock of 287 balls in the second innings. However, wickets kept falling at the other end, courtesy of a stellar spell from Ravichandran Ashwin.

The Indian spinner ran through South Africa’s batting unit, sending four batsmen back to the pavilion on single-digit scores. He went on to pick seven wickets for 145 runs and helped the team bowl, South Africa, out for 431 runs. India won that match by 203 runs.

4. Harbhajan Singh: 7/120 against South Africa in 2011

Harbhajan Singh has a great record against South Africa in Test Cricket. He has 60 wickets in 11 Tests against South Africa, including 4 five-wicket hauls. The legendary Indian spinner wreaked havoc in the third Test in Cape Town on India’s 2011 tour of South Africa.

After South Africa scored 362 runs in the first innings, India batted well to post 364 runs in the second innings. And when South Africa came out to bat again, Harbhajan Singh took it upon himself to pick the bulk of the wickets. He picked the first four wickets for just 64 runs to put South Africa on the backfoot.

Important contributions from the lower middle order and the tailenders, however, helped South Africa reach 341. Harbhajan Singh cleaned up the last three batsmen as well to finish with seven wickets in the match for 120 runs. That game resulted in a draw.

3. Harbhajan Singh: 7/87 against South Africa in 2004

Eden Gardens was a happy hunting ground for Harbhajan Singh. He has a lot of memories attached to that ground. Some of his most memorable spells came at this very ground in Test Cricket. The former Indian spinner looked unplayable against South Africa in the 2^nd Test at Eden Gardens in 2004.

South Africa batted well in the first innings and posted 305 runs in the first innings. India, however, notched a mammoth 411 runs in the second innings to leave South Africa on the back foot. Harbhajan Singh didn’t let the Proteas come back into the game after that.

He ran through South Africa’s batting unit and bundled them out for 222 runs in the third innings. Harbhajan Singh picked all the wickets in the top-five and ended up claiming 7 for 87 in 30 overs. South Africa, as a result, were bowled out for 222 runs and lost that Test by 8 wickets.

2. Ravichandran Ashwin: 7 for 66 against South Africa in 2015

Ravichandran Ashwin record his best performance against South Africa in the 3^rd Test in Nagpur in 2015. He picked a five-wicket haul to bundle out South Africa for just 79 runs in the second innings. Ravichandran Ashwin gave them a similar treatment when the Proteas came out to bat again in the Test match.

Ashwin and Amit Mishra hunted down South Africa for just 185 runs. Ashwin picked as many as seven wickets for just 66 runs in 29.5. India won that match by 124 runs. This is Ravichandran Ashwin’s best spell in Test Cricket against South Africa to date.

1. Shardul Thakur: 7 for 61 against South Africa in 2022

India’s seam bowling all-rounder, Shardul Thakur now has the best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against South Africa in Test Cricket. He made headlines yesterday after producing a sensational spell at the Wanderers stadium. Prior to the start of the Tests, there were doubts over his spot in the playing XI for the Test match.

Dean Elgar and Keegan Petersen batted fairly well in the first hour of the second day. The three seamers tried their best but couldn’t break the partnership. Shardul Thakur came out to bowl in the 36^th over of the innings.

He wasn’t afraid to pitch the ball and reaped rewards for that as well. Every time the batsmen tried to take him on, Shardul Thakur got wickets. He finished the day with seven wickets to his name. Thakur managed to pick seven for 61 in 17.5 overs to help his team bowl out South Africa for 229 runs in the second innings. His sensational spell helped India get back into the game and now has a real chance of winning their second consecutive Test in the series.