Best Indian bowling performances in Test matches – 2024 Rankings

Indian cricket experienced its fair share of highs and lows as far as 2024 is concerned. Test cricket occupied a significant chunk of the cricketing calendar. Red-ball matches spanned across seven months of the year. This featured both home and away games.

A total of 15 Tests were played by India all across last year. They managed to win and lose eight and six, respectively. One of the games ended up as a draw. No matter the outcome, some effective bowling performances were instrumental in shifting the balance of the particular contest.

Here are the five game-changing spells by Indians in Tests in 2024:   

5. Bumrah vs Australia (5/30 in 18 overs, Perth)

It was the first Test of the keenly-awaited 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India had won the toss and opted to bat first. The hosts breathed fire with the ball and India were bundled out for 150 during the second session of the day. India had it all to do against an energised Australian unit whose aim would’ve been to run away with a substantial lead at the end of the day’s play.

It was then that standby skipper Jasprit Bumrah proved his mettle with the ball. His first breakthrough was that of a debutant, Nathan McSweeney. The fourth and fifth deliveries of Bumrah’s fourth over produced the big wickets of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Bumrah secured his five-wicket haul by the commencement of the next day. Australia had been shot out for 104. India emerged victorious by a commanding margin of 295 runs.

4. Siraj vs South Africa (6/15 in nine overs, Cape Town)

Coming off an emphatic victory by an innings and 32 runs, South Africa would’ve understandably been in high spirits. They elected to bat first on winning the toss in the second Test of the series. By the end of his third over, Mohammed Siraj had already claimed the wickets of Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar. A few overs later, Siraj ensured Tony de Zorzi had to walk back after a leg-side strangle.

Siraj’s eighth over was a double-wicket maiden. He had secured his third five-wicket haul in Tests. The seventh Proteas wicket to fall was Siraj’s sixth, as he ended up bagging six wickets inside nine overs. On a tricky surface for batting, India got a handy first innings lead of 98 runs. They levelled the two-match series by eventually winning the game by seven wickets.

3. Ashwin vs England (5/51 in 15.5 overs, Ranchi)

By the time Lunch was taken on Day 3 of the fourth Test between India and England, both England’s and India’s first innings had concluded. The hosts trailed by 46 runs. England did not have an advantage, so to speak. However, the lead surely gave them a psychological advantage while walking out to bat in their second innings. Their main aim would’ve been to get to a sizeable total before having a crack at India.

Ravichandran Ashwin couldn’t match Ravindra Jadeja’s figures in the first innings. However, it was Ashwin who starred with the ball in England’s second. Opening the bowling, the seasoned pro jolted England twice in successive deliveries in his third over. The big wicket of the first innings’ centurion, Joe Root, was also snagged by him. The 54th over of the innings was when he wrapped up proceedings. India ultimately won by five wickets.

2. Kuldeep vs England (5/72 in 15 overs, Dharamshala)

Coming into the final Test of the five-match series, India had already sealed victory by leading with a 3-1 margin to their name. England had won the toss and opted to bat first. Kuldeep was introduced in the 18th over of the innings. He was treated to a couple of boundaries by the opening duo of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. The final ball of his first over was when Kuldeep dismissed the latter. Ollie Pope became his second victim just at the stroke of Lunch.

Crawley, who was looking all set to notch up his first hundred, had his stumps rattled for 79. Jonny Bairstow became Kuldeep’s 50th wicket in Tests. Skipper Ben Stokes walked back after getting deceived by a googly to grant the wrist-spinner his fourth five-for in Tests. He was subsequently awarded the Player of the Match accolade for his wonderful all-round display in the match.

1. Bumrah vs England (6/45 in 15.5 overs, Visakhapatnam)

The second Test arrived shortly after the Indians had let the series-opener slip away after being in the driver’s seat for the first half of the fixture. Electing to bat first, India put up 396 on the board in 112 overs. Looking at the manner England started their innings, it felt as if it would be a long day at work for India. With the openers dismissed by the spinners, Bumrah joined the action to get the better of Root for the eighth time in Tests.

The reverse-swinging delivery to Pope stood out as perhaps the ball of the series. The POTM of the first game was undone by a ripping in-swinger of a delivery. Bairstow and Stokes were the pace-bowling kingpins’ third and fourth wickets, respectively. Bumrah’s fifth and sixth innings were the final couple of England wickets to fall. The home side made an emphatic comeback in the series by winning the game by 106 runs.

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