Test spells: In the last few years, Indian bowlers have performed brilliantly in these challenging conditions
Test spells: The Indian team is going to play a five-match Test series against England from June 20. In such a situation, all eyes are on the new captain Shubman Gill. This is India’s first series after the retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Indian batsmen will be tested in the swing and seaming conditions of England.
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Test spells: On the other hand, in the last few years, Indian bowlers have performed brilliantly in these challenging conditions. However, India has won the Test series in England only three times in 1971, 1986 and 2007 and these victories have often been due to excellent bowling performances. In the last few years, many Indian bowlers have come to England and have understood the conditions well and taken advantage.
Test spells: This article discusses the best bowling performances by Indian bowlers in England. So take a look at the brilliant Test spells of Indian bowlers against England in England
3. Test spells: 6/38 – Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, The Oval, 1971
Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s spell of 6/38 at the Oval in 1971 is the best bowling performance by an Indian in England. This spell played an important role in giving India its first Test win in England. Chandrasekhar’s brilliant bowling with the ball in England’s second innings on a spin-friendly pitch shook the England batting lineup.
In front of this bowling, the English team was bowled out for 101 runs, which was their lowest score against India since 1936. Chandrasekhar took the wickets of Brian Luckhurst, Ray Illingworth, Keith Fletcher, John Edrich, John Snow and John Price. The visiting team needed 173 runs to win, which it achieved with four wickets in hand. Chandrasekhar took a total of eight wickets in the Test.
2. 6/35 – Amar Singh, Lord’s, 1936
In 1936, the late Amar Singh etched his name on the prestigious Lord’s Honours Board by taking 6 wickets for 35 runs. This was the second-best bowling figures by an Indian bowler in Tests on English soil. India were bowled out for 147 in the first innings, after which Amar Singh took full advantage of the pitch and devastated the England batting lineup.
The home team was bowled out for just 134, giving India a slight lead. He picked up the wickets of Arthur Mitchell, Harold Gimblett, Maurice Turnbull, Maurice Leyland, Bob Wyatt and captain Gubby Allen. Though the Indian team could not capitalise on it and eventually lost the match, Amar Singh’s record still remains the best on English soil.
1. 7/74 – Ishant Sharma, Lord’s, 2014
India pacer Ishant Sharma bowled a career-best spell against England at Lord’s in 2014, registering impressive figures of 7/74. He did this feat in the second innings and led Team India to a 95-run win, their first win at the venue in 28 years. Batting first, India scored 295 runs with the help of Ajinkya Rahane’s 103 runs.
The hosts then scored 319 runs and took a total lead of 24 runs. Then, thanks to Murali Vijay’s 95 and a crucial 99-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Ravindra Jadeja (68) and Bhuvneshwar (52), India set England a target of 319 runs.
England were in a good position on the fifth day on a flat surface. But Ishant picked up the wickets of Bell, Cook, Moeen, Root, Matt Prior, Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad in his eight-over spell as England were bowled out for 223. Despite going wicketless in the first innings, he produced his best Test figures in the second innings. He was named Player of the Match.