6 Unfancied Indian bowlers who came up with superhuman spells

Robin Singh was one of India’s best pace-bowling all roundersCricket, for long, has been known to favour the batsmen more often than bowlers. But then, there are the occasional bowling spells which leave both the spectators and the opposition spell-bound. What makes these even more special is when they come from a part-timer or the most unfancied of bowlers in the team. The cricketing world has seen a host of breath-taking spells which have turned matches on its head. Indian cricket too has been witness to many such remarkable spells by a few of our unfancied players. Here’s a look at 6 such bowlers who have bamboozled the opponents and have gone on to produce remarkable bowling spells.

#1 Sunil Joshi

Sunil Joshi’s spell of 5/6 floored the Proteas.

Exactly 16 years ago, on this day, Karnataka’s Sunil Joshi produced a stunning spell which read 10-6-6-5, with a magical economy of 0.6 runs per over! What is even more amazing is the fact that it came against the mighty South African side.

Joshi was only drafted into the side in the absence of India’s mainstream spinner, Anil Kumble, and grabbed his opportunity with both hands. Thanks to Joshi’s spell, the Proteas were bowled out for a mere 117, and in reply India comfortably overhauled the target with more than 27 overs to spare.

#2 Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik

Murali Kartik is often described as the quiet guy in Indian Cricket. Having never been a permanent member of the squad thanks to Kumble and Harbhajan’s spin-partnership, Kartik had always been in the shadows of the Indian team.

But during the Australia’s tour of India in 2007, Kartik blew the formidable Aussie batting line-up with his fantastic spell of 6-27 in Mumbai. Brought into the series mid-way upon Dhoni’s insistence, Kartik did not disappoint his captain and troubled the Aussies with his dream spell. Australia, who had already clinched the 7-match series 4-1, lost the plot completely, thus handing India a consolation win.

#3 Jasubhai Patel

Jasubhai Patel

Long before the Muralitharan era, there lived a humble bowler, who is often regarded as India’s most underrated cricketer. In only his 8th Test match, that too against the mighty Aussies, the right arm off-break bowler shocked the cricketing world with his first innings spell of 9-69, which, at that point of time, was the best bowling spell ever by an Indian.

That record was eventually broken by Anil Kumble scalping all 10 wickets against Pakista in New Delhi in 1999. Patel eventually finished with a spell of 14-124 in that match but soon after, his talented career came to an end.

#4 Robin Singh

Robin Singh was the unsung hero in Indian cricket during the 90s

Rabindra Ramanarayan Singh, more popularly known as Robin Singh, was the silent hero for Indian cricket for a long time. One of India’s most gifted all-rounders, Singh produced many good scores with the bat and was a more than decent bowler for India. In one of his greatest spells for India, the Trinidad-born cricketer, produced figures of 5-22 against the then World champions, Sri Lanka, thus helping bowling them out for a mere 172. India comfortably crossed the finishing line, courtesy a Tendulkar half-century.

#5 Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly - The man with the golden arm

Sourav Ganguly’s name deserves a special mention in this list. Known for his ability to break up partnerships, Dada was one of those rare pace bowling all-rounders for India. A testimony to this fact is his 199 wickets, along with his 18000+ runs in all forms of cricket. Widely regarded as the best bowling spell by an Indian against Pakistan, Dada’s spell of 5-16 against the arch rivals during the 1999 Sahara Sup, was one which even a regular fast bowler would be proud of and turned the match on its head. Chasing just 182 for victory, Pakistan were cruising at 79-1 before Ganguly was introduced in the attack and India eventually won the match by a narrow margin of 34 runs.

#6 Stuart Binny

Stuart Binny’s figure of 6/4 spell against Bangladesh is the best ODI bowling spell by an Indian in history

Stuart Binny’s once in a lifetime spell of 6/4 was one of those rare instances in cricket where a bowler has managed to take more wickets than the number of runs he has conceded. Binny’s spell came against Bangladesh in 2014 and left an indelible impression on Indian cricket, in terms of bowling. Binny’s record 6-wicket haul for India was also the 8th occasion where a bowler has captured 6 or more wickets in ODIs.