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South Africa stunned India by 30 runs at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata in the first Test of the two-match series. In a low-scoring contest played on a rank turner, the Proteas ended up outsmarting India inside three days, thus registering their first Test win in the country since 2010.
South Africa won the toss and batted first in the Test. However, they were bowled out for 159 in 55 overs. Off spinner Simon Harmer, though, led a brilliant fightback for the visitors, registering figures of 4-30 from 15.2 overs. After the Proteas set India a target of 124, Harmer again starred with the ball. The 36-year-old claimed 4-21 in 14 overs as the hosts were bundled out for 93 in 35 overs.
Harmer was deservedly named Player of the Match for his bowling exploits. A number of spinners have troubled India in home Tests over the last decade. In this listicle, we look at five visiting spinners with most wickets in Tests against India since the start of 2015.
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#5 Tom Hartley (22 wickets)
England left-arm spinner Tom Hartley made his Test debut during the five-match series in India in 2024. He played all five matches and ended up claiming 22 wickets at an average of 36.13, with the aid of one five-fer.
After registering figures of 2-131 from 25 overs in the first innings on debut in Hyderabad, Hartley followed it up with sensational figures of 7-62 from 26.2 overs in the second innings. England won the game by 28 runs. The spinner chipped in with five wickets in the second Test in Visakhapatnam and four wickets in Ranchi.
#4 Adil Rashid (23 wickets)
Seasoned England leg spinner Adil Rashid played five Test matches in India during the 2016 tour. He claimed 23 wickets at an average of 37.43. Rashid registered figures of 4-114 & 3-64 in the first Test in Rajkot, which ended in a draw.
The England leg spinner picked up six scalps in the second Test of the series in Visakhapatnam. He claimed 2-110 in the first innings and 4-82 in the second. Rashid also chipped in with five wickets in the Mohali Test, which included a four-wicket haul in the first innings.
#3 Mitchell Santner (23 wickets)
New Zealand left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has played four Test matches in India and has claimed 23 wickets at an average of 29.60, with two five-fers and one 10-wicket match haul. He was absolutely sensational in the Pune Test in October 2024. Santner claimed 7-53 & 6-104 as the Kiwis beat India by 113 runs.
Santner was also part of the New Zealand team that visited India in 2016. In three Tests, he claimed 10 wickets, with an innings best of 3-60 at Eden Gardens. The Kiwis spinner also picked up 3-94 & 2-79 in Kanpur during the same tour.
#2 Ajaz Patel (32 wickets)
Another New Zealand bowler, Ajaz Patel, is second on the list of visiting spinners with most wickets against India in Tests since the start of 2015. In five Test matches in India, the Mumbai-born left-arm spinner has picked up 32 wickets at an average of 22.87, with three five-fers and two 10-wicket match hauls.
(Stats of visiting spinners with most wickets in Tests in India since 2015)
Ajaz famously became only the third bowler in history to claim all 10 wickets in a Test innings. He achieved the feat (10-119) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in December 2021, albeit in a losing cause. Ajaz also starred with 5-103 & 6-57 at the same venue in November 2024 as the Kiwis completed a historic 3-0 drubbing of India in India.
#1 Nathan Lyon (41 wickets)
Aussie legend Nathan Lyon holds the record for most wickets taken by a visiting spinner in Tests in India. In eight Test matches in the country, he has claimed 41 wickets at an average of 23.70, with four-five fers and one ten-wicket match haul.
Lyon registered figures of 8-50 from 22.2 overs in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test in March 2017. The seasoned off spinner also claimed 11 wickets (3-35 & 8-64) as Australia beat India by nine wickets in Indore in March 2023. Further, Lyon picked up 5-67 in Delhi (February 2023) and 5-92 in Dharamsala (March 2017).
(Note: Stats include only Tests featuring India in India)
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