Most wickets in a 6-match bilateral ODI series

The tight schedule of the international cricket calendar coupled with the meteoric rise in the following of the T20 format of the game has inclined cricket boards across the globe to squeeze in a T20 series as part of bilateral assignments. The T20 games often come at the expense of ODIs, thus making the occurrence of a six-match ODI series rare.

Six matches give bowlers enough time to find their rhythm and also work out the chinks in the batsmen's armour which they can use throughout the series.

Let's have a look at the five most successful bowling performances when it comes to an ODI bilateral series played across six matches. Interestingly, India have played a role in all five.

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#5 Paul Jarvis vs India in 1992-93

England toured India for a 3-match Test series sandwiched between a 6-match ODI series in 1992/93. India thumped their opponents 3-0 in the Tests, but the visitors showed character to fight it out in the ODI leg, drawing it 3-3.

The major success for England came in the form of splendid bowling spells from frontline pacer Paul Jarvis who returned with figures of 2/49 in Jaipur in the series opener and 2/43 in Gwalior, both of which resulted in English wins.

His best performance though, also his career best, came in Bangalore as he picked up 5/35, scuttling out the Indians for 170 and winning the only Man of the Match award of his career. His 15 wickets in the series came at an average of 16.6 and an economy rate of just 4.63. Jarvis though could not establish himself in the England team as he went on to play just 10 more ODIs.

#4 Rana Naved-ul-Hasan vs India in 2004-05

Naved-ul-Hasan had a breakthrough series against the Indians

This series played in India between arch-rivals India and Pakistan saw many outstanding performances including one with the ball by Rana Naved-ul-Hasan.

He started the series with 2/38 in Kochi and 3/54 in Vizag but both came in losing causes. What turned the series on its head was Rana’s display with the ball in the 3rd ODI in Jamshedpur. After Pakistan set India 320 to win, Rana castled the Indian batting order en route to career-best figures of 6/27, also winning the Man of the Match award.

From thereon, India could just not pull things back as they went on to lose the series 4-2. Rana’s 15 wickets that came at 16.4 runs per wicket and at an economy rate of 4.85 won him the award for the Player of the Series.

#3 Sourav Ganguly vs Pakistan in 1997

Ganguly picked up 100 ODI wickets in his career

Perhaps the biggest surprise on this list, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly once tormented the Pakistan team not just with his bat but with even the ball in hand. It was the Independence Cup of 1997 when both the teams decided to play a bilateral series in Canada.

All the matches were played at the same venue, the Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club and the pitches proved conducive to Dada’s style of bowling.

The Prince of Kolkata, who came into the series having picked a solitary wicket in his previous 42 ODIs, ended the series with 15 wickets to his name. He bowled at a miserly rate of 3.28 runs to the over and his scalps came at 10.67 runs per wicket. In the fourth match of the series, when India were defending a modest 182 in 50 overs, Ganguly’s right arm medium pace came to the rescue as his career-best 5/16 ensured an Indian win.

India went on to win the series 4-1 and Ganguly, who ended the series as the highest run-getter (222 runs), highest wicket-taker and recipient of 4 Man of the Match awards, was undoubtedly chosen the Player of the Series.

#2 Yuzvendra Chahal vs South Africa in 2018

Chahal is a find of the IPL

Yuzvendra Chahal has evolved into a very dependable attacking leg-spinner. Ever since he earned a call-up to the Indian team on the back of consistent performances in the IPL, the big-hearted leggie has never looked back.

What may have helped his cause was that he was playing under Virat Kohli at RCB who found the 24-year-old tweaker a potent weapon as he embarked on a ride to conquer the world.

He was at his deceptive best in the series against the Proteas as he accounted for 16 dismissals at an economy rate of 5.04 and a strike rate of 19.56. Barring the Pink ODI at Johannesburg, he always managed to pull something out of his bag of tricks, ending up outfoxing the Proteas batsmen.

His 5/22 in the second match at Centurion and 4/46 in the next one at Cape Town ensured comfortable Indian victories. The partnership he formed with Kuldeep Yadav tormented the home team in their own den.

#1 Kuldeep Yadav vs South Africa in 2018

Kuldeep: India's first chinaman bowler

Kuldeep Yadav, the young Indian bowling sensation, served as a partner-in-crime for Chahal as the wrist spinning duo trampled the South Africans.

The chinaman’s guile was too hot for the Proteas batsmen to handle as they conceded defeat.

Kuldeep’s figures in the series, which read 3/34, 3/20, 4/23, 2/51, 4/57 and 1/51 ignite envy in the best bowlers across the world. His series tally of 17 wickets picked at an impressive economy rate of 4.63 and strike rate of 18 will go down as one of the most memorable contributions in Indian cricket.

His stupendous efforts with the ball played an instrumental role in paving the way for a maiden Indian series win on South African soil.