Those unheralded knights - Indian bowlers

Not quite the acclaimed onesIndian bowlers - The first response that would be evoked from many cricket aficionados would be disparage. In a country where bowlers are seen as the blue-collar workmen who act as a sideshow to the home-grown white-collar batting immortals, there have been quite a few bowlers who have managed to captivate the attention and instill buoyancy amongst the people.We take a look at the top ten such bowlers who have represented India in both Tests and ODIs. This list is an objective opinion which is compiled purely on the basis of match-winning performances, overall statistics and the general views of notable cricket experts across the world with priority given to Test matches against top quality opposition and ODI matches of ICC events.

#10 Vinoo Mankad

Versatile and Responsive

Vinoo Mankad was the first great all-rounder to have played for India at Test level. He is best known for giving name to the term “Mankading” after he controversially ran out Bill Brown who was backing up too far.

But, he was much more than that. With his accurate and flighted slow left-arm spin, he won many Test matches for his country. He was also a versatile batsman who could adapt himself to any situation.

His most notable performance was during India’s first Test victory over England at Madras when he took 12 wickets on a sluggish pitch that did not offer much support to his style of bowling.

Statistics - Tests: 162 wickets from 44 matches at an average of 32

#9 Subash Gupte

Fascinating and impactful

During his peak, Gupte was the most penetrative leg-break bowler across all nations. With his supreme control and a lethal googly, he confounded many world-class batsmen with ridiculous ease.

He performed admirably on his first tour of West Indies picking up 27 wickets against the legendary Walcott, Weekes and Worrell known famously as the 3 W’s. The iconic Sir Gary Sobers rated him as the finest leg-spinner he had ever seen. Even though his career ended acrimoniously, his legacy was never in doubt.

Statistics - Tests: 149 wickets from 36 matches at an average of 29

#8 Javagal Srinath

The quickest of them all

The “Mysore Express” was amongst the fastest bowlers during the start of his career. No mean that he played in an era containing some seriously frightening pace merchants.

Taking over the mantle from the great Kapil Dev as India’s leading new-ball bowler, Srinath bowled some ferocious spells throughout his career. The most famous of them was his 6-21 against the visiting South Africans in a flat deck at Ahmedabad to give India an important series win.

The injury-plagued Srinath remodeled his action late his career as he was forced to be the lone workhorse for the Indian bowling attack.

Statistics - Tests: 236 wickets from 67 matches at an average of 30; ODIs: 315 wickets from 229 matches at an average of 28

#7 Erapalli Prasanna

The Grandmaster

An engineer by trade, the master craftsman was known as the most astute spin bowler of his time. With a nice loopy action, he invited the batsman down the wicket only to flummox him by beating him in the air.

Eknath Solkar, the legendary close-in fielder swore he could hear the revolutions on the deliveries bowled by Prasanna. The astute former Australian captain Ian Chapell did not think twice when he named “Pras” as his most feared opponent bowler.

He enjoyed the confidence shown on him by captain MAK Pataudi as he played a major role in India’s maiden away series victory in New Zealand in 1967-68.

Statistics - Tests: 189 wickets from 49 matches at an average of 30

#6 Harbhajan Singh

Bring ‘em on

Nicknamed the “Turbanator”, the Jalandhar born off-spinner tormented numerous batsmen when he found his rhythm. Bearing most of his brunt was the famous all-conquering Australian team of the 2000s.

A fierce competitor, Singh gobbled up the visiting Aussies in the epic Test series of 2001. He was also the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket during the aforementioned series.

His most dangerous delivery was the top-spinner that reared off the pitch abruptly. Ricky Ponting, the dashing Australian batting great was perennially troubled by Harbhajan. A World Cup winner, he was also no stranger to controversies as he often wore his heart on his sleeve.

Statistics - Tests: 416 wickets from 102 matches at an average of 32; ODIs: 263 wickets from 232 matches at an average of 33

#5 Bhagawat Chandrasekhar

Often Unplayable

Armed with an uncommon action, Chandrasekhar ran in with vigour and bowled searing leg-breaks and dipping googlies. Affected by polio, he did not let that wither him as he became India’s most prized possession on away tours.

His annus mirabilis was in 1971 when he bowled India to a famous win against England at The Oval, thereby giving them their first series win in England. He also destroyed the Packer-affected Australian team ensuring India’s first test win in Australia. Chandra was almost fatal on wet and uncovered pitches.

Statistics - Tests: 242 wickets from 58 matches at an average of just under 30

#4 Zaheer Khan

Canny and Surgical

The Mumbaikar who was instrumental in taking India to the top of the Test rankings, Khan was a rarity among Indian seamers. He swung the new ball viciously and came back to prise open the opposition batting lineup with some brilliant reverse swing.

Starting as a tearaway quick bowler, the left-arm seamer made a grand impression upon everyone when he yorked batsmen out regularly. After an injury and subsequent loss in form, Zaheer came back in 2007 with a supreme spell of artistic swing bowling at Trent Bridge giving India a series win in England after 21 years.

He also contributed immensely to the team finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the victorious campaign at the 2011 World Cup. India’s most fruitful period on the sport’s history was made possible due to this wily seamer.

Statistics - Tests: 311 wickets from 92 matches at an average of 33; ODIs: 282 wickets from 200 matches at an average of 29

#3 Bishen Singh Bedi

Waltzing and Poetic

Reminiscent of a moving clock, Bedi’s rhythmic and perfectly synchronized action was adored by every cricket fan across the world.

An ICC Hall of famer, the left-arm spinner’s run-up and deliverance was akin to a snake-charmer slowly and surreptitiously creeping upon his pet with an impeccable flight and gracious loop through the air.

Bedi was also an outright character famously protesting against the display of extreme pace by the West Indies bowlers. His best performance was at the bouncy WACA pitch when he took a 10 wicket haul, albeit in a losing cause.

Nevertheless, he played a prominent role in several Test series wins. Filled with guile and an uninhibited love for the sport, he finished his career as India’s most successful bowler.

Statistics - Tests: 266 wickets from 67 matches at an average of 29

#2 Kapil Dev

The lone warrior

Voted India’s cricketer of the century, the “Haryana Hurricane” is the most revered sporting hero in India. On a windy evening in Lords, Dev held afloat the Prudential World Cup ensuring the most catalytic change in the sport’s history.

A lion-hearted fast bowler, he was a multi-dimensional cricketer. Leading by example with both bat and ball, the legendary English fast bowler attributed him as a spectator’s delight. An exceptionally fit athlete, his mantra was simple. Run hard into the crease and bowl with all your energy.

Playing through immense pain, he bowled unchanged almost 17 overs as he demolished the Australian batting line-up thereby singlehandedly setting up a famous Test win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and leveling the series.

Kapil was India’s first ever proper fast bowler. Those were the days when Sunil Gavaskar took the new ball. But with Kapil Dev’s arrival, there was a shift in the team’s psyche. He finished his career as the most successful bowler in Test Cricket when he overtook Sir Richard Hadlee’s record.

Statistics - Tests: 434 wickets from 131 matches at an average of 29; ODIs: 253 wickets from 225 matches at an average of 27

#1 Anil Kumble

Giving it everything

The tall and peerless competitor from Bangalore, Kumble was quite possibly the greatest match-winner that Indian cricket had ever seen.

A former captain who led the team with utmost dignity, Kumble was one of only two bowlers to ever pick 10 wickets in an innings. His rousing spell of 10-74 in Delhi was a career defining performance.

Often unplayable on wearing wickets, Kumble strode in with purpose and had the aggression of a fast bowler. Affectionately called “Jumbo”, the wrist spinner imparted enough venom and side-spin with each and every delivery.

Deceptively quick and deadly accurate, he made a mockery of several leading batsmen who almost always reacted a second after the ball was delivered. After successfully scaling the peak of 600 wickets, Kumble finished as the third highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket after Muralitharan and Warne. But, the lasting memory of the man was him bowling with a broken jaw and dismissing Brian Lara in Antigua symbolizing his never say die attitude.

Statistics - Tests: 619 wickets from 132 matches at an average of 29; ODIs: 337 wickets from 271 matches at an average of 31