Indian cricket has a rich history of producing world-class spinners. These spinners have played a crucial role in winning numerous matches for India. In this article, we will look at the top 10 Indian spinners who dominated the opposition with their skills and have made a mark in Indian cricket.
1. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is one of the greatest Indian spinners of all time. He is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 619 wickets. His ability to bowl long spells and his never-give-up attitude made him one of the greatest of the game. Apart from being one of the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket, he also holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in ODIs. He was known for his accuracy, consistency, and ability to take wickets even on flat pitches. His contribution to Indian cricket has been immense, both as a player and as a coach.
2. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh played a significant role in India's victory in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. He took 32 wickets in three tests, including a hat trick in the Kolkata test. Harbhajan is also the first Indian bowler to take a test hat trick. Singh burst onto the international scene in 1998, and his performances in the 2001 Test series against Australia made him an overnight star.
3. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin is currently one of the best spinners in the world. He has taken 463 wickets in 89 tests and 151 in 113 ODI's. Ashwin is known for his variations and accuracy, which makes him a deadly bowler on any pitch. Ravichandran Ashwin is a modern-day great of Indian cricket. He has a remarkable record in Test cricket and has been instrumental in India's success in recent years. Ashwin is a thinking bowler who can adapt to different conditions quickly. He is also a handy batsman, which he has proven many times.
4. Bishan Singh Bedi
Bishan Singh Bedi is a left-arm spinner who played for India in the 1970s. He took 266 wickets in 67 tests. As a player, Bedi was a master of flight and deception. He was a classical left-arm spinner who could turn the ball both ways. Bedi was an integral part of the famous Indian spin quartet of the 1970s, including Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan.
5. Erapalli Prasanna
Erapalli Anantharao Srinivas Prasanna aka Erapalli Prasanna was also a part of the Indian spin quartet. He took 189 wickets in 49 tests and is known for his off-spin bowling. Prasanna was a wicket-taker and played a crucial role in India's success in the 1970s.
6. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is a left-arm spinner, and is known for his accurate and tight bowling. He has taken 259 wickets in 62 tests and 188 in 170 ODIs. Ravindra Jadeja is a versatile cricketer who can contribute to all three aspects of the game. He is a reliable spinner, an excellent fielder, and a handy lower-order batsman. Jadeja is a consistent performer for India and has been a vital cog in the team's success in recent years.
7. Venkatapathy Raju
Sagi Lakshmi Venkatapathy Raju played for India in the 1990s and was a left-arm spinner. He took 93 wickets in 28 tests and 47 in 53 ODIs. Raju was known for his economical bowling and was a part of India's World Cup squad in 1996.
8. Pragyan Ojha
Pragyan Ojha is a left-arm spinner who played for India from 2008 to 2013. He took 113 wickets in 24 tests and 106 in 80 ODIs. He is known for his accurate and tight bowling, which made it difficult for batters to score runs off him.
9. Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is a left-arm wrist-spinner, his debut for India was in 2017. He has taken 104 wickets in 34 international matches. He is known for his variations and the ability to pick wickets at crucial times. He has shown immense promise in his brief international career. He can spin the ball both ways and has a range of variations in his arsenal. He has been a crucial member of the Indian limited-overs teams and took several match-winning wickets for India.
10. Amit Mishra
Amit Mishra is a right-arm leg-break bowler who has played for India in all three patterns of the game. He has taken 76 wickets in 22 tests, 64 in 36 ODIs, and 14 in 8 T20s.
