All-time India Test XI - The Spinners

SPINNING A WEB

A land quite hostile to fast-bowlers, the Indian subcontinent has always been a place for the spinners to thrive right from the early days of Indian cricket. Spinners have played a major role in India’s success at home and also abroad. India has been quite lucky to be gifted with so many splendid spin bowling talents through it’s history. Right from the days when Subhash Gupte ruled the roost against the mighty West Indies, to the famous spin quartet of Chandra-Bedi-Prasanna-and-Venkat, to Harbhajan Singh causing troubles to Australians, Indian spinners have been a pillar of strength during times of stress and joy.

SUBHASH GUPTE

Sir Garfield Sobers regarded Gupte as the best spin bowler he has ever faced. Vinoo Mankad once told his son Ashok that if there was something called magic in cricket, then Gupte was the magician. Subhash Gupte was immaculate with flight, the leg-break and the two googlies he possessed – one released from closer to his right ear and the other slightly away from it. He was equally successful in flat batting tracks, green tops and moist wickets. This characteristic was visible with his success in India, Pakistan, England, West Indies and New Zealand. On one such occassion, Gupte came close to take 10 wickets in an innings against West Indies at Kanpur (1958/59). He took 9/102 only to miss Lance Gibbs who was dropped by the wicket keeper Naren Tamhane. Gupte’s legacy is a tale of every young spin bowler. For stat-lovers, Gupte took 149 wickets for India in a career that started early in 1952 against England and ended in 1961 against the same opposition.

ERAPALLI PRASANNA

Prasanna was one of the unique cricketers who took a break from international cricket to complete his engineering course. Prasanna had a brisk and high action. This, in addition to the excellent control of line, length and flight, made him dangerous even on good batting tracks. The guile and the high loop also ensured he got the ball bounce higher than expected. Prasanna had a special liking for the Kiwis and Kangaroos. Nine of his top ten performances have been either against New Zealand or Australia. He has been, a big impact, in pitches that aid good seam and swing bowling. Prasanna has collected lots of wickets in Auckland, Dunedin, Brisbane, Melbourne and Wellington. With 189 test wickets, this wily off-spinner will always be remember for his services with his other spin-mates who wrecked the world in the late 60s and early 70s.

BHAGWAT CHANDRASEKHAR

One of the greatest spinners of all times

India slowly lost the skill to win matches abroad. And then came, Chandra. In five tests (abroad) he took 42 wickets. With the polio attack, Chandra possessed quite an unique bowling style. His leg-spinners weren’t spinning viciously as it did for many of his peers. He had an unusually long run-up for a leg spinner, possessed a googly and flipper that were bowled at a faster pace than usual. Because of his unorthodoxy, he was at times erratic. And on other occasions, he could bowl a completely unplayable delivery. Chandra helped India win their first ever series in England (1971) with his 6-38 at Oval. He also helped India register it’s first win in Australia (1978) with his 12-104 performance.

SRINIVAS VENKATRAGHAVAN

A penetrative off-spinner, useful tail-end batsman, an excellent close-in fielder and a shrewd captain – Venkat was the prmitive version of Daniel Vettori. He made his test debut, before he was 20. Venkat’s career spanned over 18 years since he made his debut in 1965. He collected 156 wickets in that period along with 44 catches and useful 748 runs lower in the order in the 57 test matches he played. Venkat’s best hour of test cricket came at Delhi (1965) when he was all over New Zealand like a slow poison. In 51.1 overs, he gave away just 72 runs and took 8 wickets.

BISHAN SINGH BEDI

When Bedi bowled many saw a graceful, beautiful artist at work. He was an expert in flighting the ball and fooled the batsmen with his variety with little change in his action. In fact, he is regarded by many as the world’s best left-arm spinner ever. His action was very relaxed and rhythmic that he could keep on bowling throughout the day. There were days when India completely relied on their spinners to deliver all around the world. And in fact, they did. Bedi had a phenomenal run against Australia (52 wickets – 1969/70 and 1977/78), England (50 wickets – 1972/73 and 1976/77), West Indies (18 wickets – 1975/76) and New Zealand (22 wickets – 1976/77). Bedi also did a reasonable job as Indian captain. In 2008, Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack named Bedi as one of the five best cricketers to have not been selected as “Wisden Cricketer of the Year”. Bedi was also famous for his controversies as much as his spin bowling.

DILIP DOSHI

A cricketing career that was doomed in the shadow of Bishan Singh Bedi, Dilip Doshi would have gone on to play 100 tests for India if he was born in another time. Much like Bedi, Doshi also possessed brilliant control of flight and turn and that made him a respected left-arm spinner. He made his test debut only when he was 32 and reached 100 test wickets in just 28 matches. He had a very good run against the Aussies and the English. He took 38 wickets in 9 matches against Australia and also picked 36 wickets in 10 matches against England. The emergence of Maninder Singh in 1982-83, ended Doshi’s career.

ANIL KUMBLE

India’s leading wicket-taker (619) in test matches and the third in the list of all time wicket takers behind Muralitharan and Warne, Anil Kumble’s services to Indian cricket is already well known to many of us. Another unorhodox leg-spinner who hailed from Karnataka, Kumble also relied on the fast flippers, top-spinners and googlies more than the usual leg-spinners. However, as time passed by, Kumble did master the art of orthodox leg-spin also. Kumble, much like Chandra, was unusually quick and also emulated Jim Laker’s record of 10 wickets in an innings against Pakistan in 1999/00. Kumble is also known for his gritty and tenacious character. After being hit on the jaw while batting, Kumble came on to bowl with his broken jaw completely taped. He also took Lara’s wicket with the broken jaw itself. Sir Viv called it as “one of the bravest things he has ever seen on a cricket field.” Noted cricket columnist, Peter Roebock once compared him with Glenn McGrath – “Curiously, Kumble has little in common with his two great contemporaries, Shane Warne and Muttiah Muralitharan. They relied on excess, spinning the ball ferociously and able, by sleight of hand, to fool batsmen into playing at thin air. They created error by destroying hope. Kumble more closely resembles Glenn McGrath because he does not so much baffle batsmen as torture them with precisely-pitched deliveries. Like the Australian, he does not tear opponents apart, just works away methodically till the deed has been done. Apparently he is an engineer, but he belongs in the courts of law as an inquisitor.“

HARBHAJAN SINGH

The world’s second best off-spinner in terms of wickets (behind Muralitharan), Harbhajan Singh’s career was resurrected when he captured 32 wickets against Australia in India (2001). He also went on take the first test hat trick for India in the same series. An off-spinner, who bowls with passion and aggression, Harbhajan has lots of variety in his bowling. His orthodox off-spin, the doosra, the variations in bounce and pace, makes him an asset for any team. He might not provide the loop and flight as most of his predecessors have done, but Harbhajan still has the uncanny knack of picking wickets in conditions that aid spin and also in conditions where crowds are totally hostile towards him. The bad-boy of Indian cricket, Harbhajan’s 11-year career has already seen myriads of controversies. With 330 test wickets and at least 7-8 years of cricket left in him, Harbhajan, India’s leading spin bowler is on his way to more glory

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