Birthday special: Murali Kartik – Top three spells by the Indian left-arm spinner

In a generation when Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble dictated terms for Team India across ODIs and T20Is, Murali Kartik didn’t get a whole lot of chances. However, the bowling all-rounder made his presence felt with the ball in hand after making his debut against South Africa in the year 2000.

In eight Tests, 37 ODIs, and one T20I for the Men in Blue, Kartik picked up a combined tally of 61 wickets. In the domestic circuit, Kartik was a stalwart as he got 1003 scalps. The now 45-year-old Kartik also had the privilege of representing four teams in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.

Here are the 3 best spells of Murali Kartik

vs Australia, ODI- 2007

Back in 2007 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, Murali Kartik produced his best spell in ODI cricket. The left-arm spinner returned with bowling figures of 10-3-27-6 against Australia after the visitors opted to bat first. On the back of Kartik’s brilliance, the visitors were bowled out for 193.

After Zaheer Khan and Irfan Pathan got rid of the openers, Kartik wreaked havoc in the Aussie middle and lower-order. Kartik later went on to score an unbeaten 34-ball 21 in a vital partnership of 52 runs with Zaheer for the eighth wicket. India went on to win the game by two wickets.

vs Australia, Test- 2004

In 2004, at the same venue, the left-arm spinner showed his class against the same opposition. In Australia’s first innings, Kartik returned with career-best figures of 15.3-1-44-4. The tweaker got the prized wickets of Matthew Hayden, skipper Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, and Adam Gilchrist.

India went on to win the game by 13 runs after bowling the Aussies out for 93 in the fourth innings. Although Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh picked up five-wicket hauls in the game, Kartik was given the Player of the Match award for picking up seven wickets, the most among the spinners.

vs West Indies, ODI- 2004

Kartik accounted for two three-wicket hauls in ODIs out of which the one against West Indies in Jodhpur stood out. After India elected to field first, Ajit Agarkar drew first blood, getting rid of opener Wavell Hinds. Thereafter, Kartik’s brilliance reduced the visitors to 74 for four in 24.2 overs.

The left arm trapped Chris Gayle in front after which he rattled Marlon Samuel’s woodwork in his next over. Ramnaresh Sarwan was looking good for his 14 before Kartik castled him as well. Kartik returned with brilliant figures of 10-1-36-3 after which the Men in Blue won by three wickets.