Top spells: Best bowling figures for India in ODIs
The ODI World Cup winners in 1983 and 2011, India are renowned for the quality batsmen they produce. Their best batting performances are etched in memory while the bowling performances do not seem to get similar popularity. There have been some spectacular bowling spells from Indians in the 50-over format. Here are the top five spells for India in ODI cricket.
5. Murali Kartik (6/27)
The left-arm spinner was actually working for a TV broadcast when India were playing this ODI series against Australia in 2007. MS Dhoni called up Kartik and included him in the playing XI straight away. In the 7th ODI of the series, Kartik registered the sensational spell of 6/27 to restrict Australia to 193. He then struck 21 not out to take India home.
4. Kuldeep Yadav (6/25)
In the first ODI of the tour of England in 2018, the home side batted first and were off to a brisk start. Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow carried England to 70/0 in the first 10 overs. And then arrived Kuldeep Yadav. The left-arm spinner destroyed England’s top order to leave them at 82/3. He returned later to wrap up the tail and recorded a six-wicket haul. India chased 269 runs with eight wickets remaining.
3. Ashish Nehra (6/23)
India faced England in this group stage encounter of the 2003 World Cup. Ashish Nehra was injured before this game but eventually decided to give his all in this game. India batted first and posted 250/9. England found themselves in trouble at 16/2 but Nasser Hussain and Michael Vaughan stabilised the innings. Nehra then blew away the English batting line-up with his vicious swing bowling to secure an 82-run triumph for India.
2. Anil Kumble (6/12)
India faced West Indies at Eden Gardens, Calcutta in the Hero Cup final of 1993. The home team reached 225/7 in their 50 overs and now it was up to the Caribbean side to chase down the target. Sachin Tendulkar took the key wicket of Brian Lara while Kapil Dev and Manoj Prabhakar reduced West Indies to 63/4. Kumble claimed all the remaining wickets and conceded only 12 runs in the process. West Indies slumped to 123 all out.
1. Stuart Binny (6/4)
Binny has played only 14 ODIs for India to date but he still holds the record for the best bowling figures in an ODI by an Indian bowler. He achieved this stupendous feat against Bangladesh in 2014. At Dhaka, the Indian team batted first in the second of the three-match ODI series. Taskin Ahmed’s five-for saw India crashing to 105 all out. However, Bangladesh fared even worse in the chase and finished with 58 all out. Binny took six wickets in just 28 balls while Mohit Sharma prized the remaining four scalps.
