Test Match Records: Top 5 Bowlers with most 5-wicket hauls for India in SENA Countries

Most of the players from the sub-continent region, especially from India, Pakistan or Sri Lanka are judged on the grounds of their outing in the SENA countries. It is also considered a parameter because the playing circumstances are not a cakewalk for both the batters and the bowlers when it comes to performing in the SENA countries.

If we specifically talk about the pace bowlers played or playing for India; it has grown to a good extent with the inclusion of some brilliant talents in the present, including the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Shami, alongside some names from the recent past like Ishant Sharma.

With said that, here we’ll have a look at the five Indian bowlers, be they pacers or spinners with the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the SENA countries.

Kapil Dev – 8 Five-wicket hauls

One of the revolutionary names in Indian cricket, the 1983 World Cup champion skipper Kapil Dev was one of the great performers in SENA countries among all the players of his era. He was one of the star pacers who brought up their best when it came to delivering in the pace and bouncy conditions of the SENA countries.

He was fond of playing England and Australia which can also be justified with the 8 five-wicket hauls he claimed in the pacers’ favourable conditions in these countries. However, he couldn’t succeed in claiming a five-wicket haul in New Zealand or South Africa; but still, he is the only Indian bowler to claim the highest number of five-wicket hauls in the SENA countries.

Jasprit Burmah – 7 Five-wicket hauls

The star Indian pace spearhead and one of the modern-day bowling greats, Jasprit Bumrah made his Test debut only in the SENA countries. He made his first Test appearance against South Africa in South Africa. Speaking especially of Bumrah’s Test career, he has played only 4 matches in his home country, India and has scalped 14 wickets. 

Apart from that, he has scalped 117 Test wickets in SENA countries in 28 matches. Apart from that, he has overall 179 wickets in SENA countries, including 7 five-wicket hauls, which is the second highest number of five-wicket hauls by an Indian bowler in these countries.

Anil Kumble – 6 Five-wicket hauls

The former legendary leg-spinner and former Indian skipper, Anil Kumble was one of the greatest finger artists with the bowl in his era. He was a top-class performer when it came to the outings of spinners in the SENA countries. He had six five-wicket hauls to his name, which was most by an Indian spinner in these conditions.

In his total of six five-wicket hauls in the SENA countries, the former Indian skipper scalped four in Australia only. Apart from that, he also claimed one five-wicket haul each in New Zealand and South Africa. After playing in 109 games in SENA countries in all formats, he had 219 wickets on his credit.

Zaheer Khan – 6 Five-wicket hauls

The star left-arm pacer who is still known as the bowling star who delivered in the time of pace-bowling crisis for Team India. Whenever it came to performing in the New Zealand conditions, Zaheer Khan was undoubtedly one of the lethal performers as he claimed four five-wicket hauls in New Zealand.

Apart from that, in the rest two five-wicket hauls of the six he scalped in SENA countries, ZAK claimed one each on his name in Australia and England.

Bhagwath Chandrashekhar – 6 Five-wicket hauls

The former star Indian leg spinner who featured for India at the highest level of the game from 1964 to 1979. He is one of the few bowlers in the history of Indian bowling, who registered glory to their name in the SENA countries. However, Bhagwath Chandrashekhar just played in 20 Tests for India across these countries.

But still, the then spin-bowling sensation managed to scalp six five-wicket hauls in 40 innings of these 20 Tests, he played for India in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia.