Spinners usually find it difficult to take wickets in away test matches. This is truer in the case of Indian spinners because away conditions are usually hostile. The away pitches of spin friendly nations too pose a threat of being difficult to adjust immediately. We will now have a look at the Indian spinners who have taken most wickets in away tests.

P.S: All data are as of June 2022.

10. Srinivas Venkataraghavan

Srinivas Venkataraghavan was a part of the famed Indian ‘spin quartet’. He was an off spinner and had to compete with the other off spinner in the quartet, Erapalli Prasanna, for a position in the playing XI.

Away from home, Venkataraghavan took 62 wickets in 25 tests, at an average of 44.40 and an economy rate of 2.50.

9. Subash Gupte

Subash Gupte was a leg spinner who predominantly played in the 1950s. He had a good ability to turn the ball but his most potent delivery was the googly.

Away from home, Gupte took 65 wickets in 15 tests, at an average of 28.52 and an economy rate of 2.30.

8. Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja, known for his all-round skills in test cricket, has been for the Indian test team when it came to tests in India. However, away from home and mainly outside Asia, he had to compete with Ravichandran Ashwin for a spot in the playing XI.

Away from home, Jadeja has taken 69 wickets in 22 tests, at an average of 33.56 and an economy rate of 2.75.

7. Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri was considered to be both, a batsman and an all-rounder at different points of time. His batting had a flair but his left arm spin was certainly useful too.

Away from home, Shastri took 78 wickets in 42 tests, at an average of 42.85 and an economy rate of 2.42.

6. Erapalli Prasanna

Like Venkataraghavan, Erapalli Prasanna too was a part of the famed Indian ‘spin quartet’. He was known to be a good thinker of the game and had usually well laid-out plans to dismiss the batsman.

Away from home, Prasanna took 94 wickets in 27 tests, at an average of 33.85 and an economy rate of 2.49.

5. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar

Bhagwath Chandrasekhar was one of the two leaders of the spin quartet. He was a leg spinner. His arm had an issue with polio but the handicap actually made his arm and in result the ball, turn in unexpected directions. He was known for unplayable deliveries frequently.

Away from home, Chandrasekhar took 100 wickets in 26 tests, at an average of 32.66 and an economy rate of 2.89.

4. Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is the best test spinner among active players. He is known to be a great thinker of the game too. He has a wide range of variations. Although initially criticised for his overseas performances he has now had a vast improvement and puts up performances better than some top pacers outside Asia. He has 400+ test wickets and with 5 centuries to go with it, he is a complete all-round package overall.

Away from home, Ashwin has taken 126 wickets in 34 tests, at an average of 31.88 and an economy rate of 2.93.

3. Bishan Singh Bedi

Bishan Singh Bedi was one of the two leaders of the spin quartet. He was a left arm spinner. He has 266 test wickets to his name but with respect to overall first-class cricket career he had 1560 wickets. He had an attacking mindset while bowling and had most of his variations with almost the same action.

Away from home, Bedi took 129 wickets in 37 tests, at an average of 33.72 and an economy rate of 2.37.

2. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh along with Kumble was a key part of the Indian bowling in the 2000s. He shot to fame in the 2001 Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he took 32 wickets in 3 tests and secured a series victory for India. He went on to take 400+ test wickets.

Away from home, Harbhajan took 152 wickets in 48 tests, at an average of 38.90 and an economy rate of 3.06.

1. Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble is India’s leading wicket taker with 619 test wickets. He had a knack of taking wickets without turning the ball at all. His flippers were deadly against batsmen. He was the leader of the attack whenever he played in Asia and the lead spinner when playing overseas.

Away from home, Kumble took 269 wickets in 69 tests, at an average of 35.85 and an economy rate of 2.88.