Stats: Best Bowling Figures In An Innings In South Africa By Indian Bowlers

Highest Wickets In South Africa in Test by Indian (Image Source: Google)

To pick up wickets in a test match is the major contributor to winning a test match, and for that sometimes individual bowlers have to stand up. Indians have won only 3 tests in South Africa, and are eyeing their maiden test series win in South Africa.

As we near the South Africa v India 3-test match series commencing from December 26th, let's have a look at the best bowling figures in an innings by an Indian bowler in South Africa.

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5. S. Sreesanth (5/114, Cape Town 2011)

Indian pacer S. Sreesanth produced a stellar bowling performance in the 3rd test of India tour of South Africa in 2010/11, as he picked up 5 wickets in the first innings after India won the toss & elected to field first. 

Sreesanth picked up important scalps in the form of Hashmi Amla (59), AB de Villiers (26), Ashwell Prince (47) and Mark Boucher for a first-ball duck. 

In the match, South Africa scored 362 runs in the first innings after Sreesanth's fifer. India in reply scored 364 courtesy of Sachin Tendulkar's 146. In the second innings, South Africa scored 341 runs with the help of Jacques Kallis's unbeaten 109. In reply, India was batting at 166/3 when the match concluded as a draw.

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4. Jasprit Bumrah (5/54, Johannesburg 2018)

In the last test the Indian team played on the South African soil, Jasprit Bumrah who was surprisingly picked up by coach Ravi Shastri for the tour justified his coach's faith. 

After India won the toss & opted to bat first, were bowled out for a total of 187. However, Indians retaliated as they bowled out South Africa a total of 194. Bumrah troubled the South African batters at their home and picked up 5 wickets. His 5 wicket-haul also included important wickets in the form of Hashim Amla (61), Quinton de Kock (8), and captain Faf du Plessis (8). 

Team India scored 247/10 in their second innings and then bowled out South Africa for 177, winning the match by 63 runs. 

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3. Mohammad Shami (5/28, Johannesburg 2018)

In the same match where Jasprit Bumrah recorded a bowling figure of 5/54, it was Mohammad Shami's aggressive and effective bowling performance in the second innings that won the match for India.

Mohammad Shami picked up 5 wickets in the second innings and cleaned up the South African lower order without much adieu. Firstly, he dismissed opener Aiden Markram for a score of 4 and then he wiped through the host's lower order consisting of Vernon Philander, Andile Phehlukwayo, Morne Morkel & Lungisani Ngidi.

This match was India's just 3rd test win on South African soil and the first & only win in the series. 

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2. Ravindra Jadeja (6/138, Durban 2013)

South African pitches which majorly support Pace bowling, Ravindra Jadeja surprisingly became a force to reckon with in Durban. Jadeja managed to pick up 6 wickets after India scored 334 runs. 

Even though Jadeja picked up a 6-wicket haul, it wasn't enough as South Africa went on to score 500 runs with everyone contributing from openers through to the lower order.

In the second innings, India was restricted to 223 and South Africa chased down the target of 59 runs without losing a wicket, winning the match by 10 wickets. 

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1. Harbhajan Singh (7/120, Cape Town 2011)

Veteran off-spinner who bid adieu to cricket after he announced his formal retirement from all forms of cricket on Friday (December 24), the 'turbanator' has the best bowling figures in an innings in South Africa by an Indian bowler.

In the same match, where Sreesanth picked up 5 wickets for 114 runs in the first innings at Cape Town, Harbhajan Singh played a major role in bowling out South Africa for 341. 'Bhajji' picked up 7 wickets, dismissing Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Paul Harris, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel & Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

Harbhajan Singh finished with 417 wickets in 103 tests in played in his career. Bhajji's 417 wickets places him on the 4th spot in the list of Indian highest wicket-takers.