Top 3 iconic Test spells by Indian bowlers against England on English soil

As India prepared for the upcoming five-match Test series in England starting June 20, all eyes are on newly appointed captain Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant. This tour is India's first series post the retirements of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> and Rohit Sharma.
England’s swinging and seaming conditions are known to test the best batters. Over the years, Indian bowlers have come up to the occasion in these challenging conditions, delivering memorable spells. The English pitches tend to help seamers, especially with the Dukes ball and the overcast conditions. While India has won a Test series in England only thrice, in 1971, 1986, and 2007, these victories have often come due to brilliant bowling performances. Over the years, many Indian bowlers have come to England and understood the conditions well, playing them to their advantage.&nbsp;
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<h2>Iconic Test spells by Indian bowlers against England on English soil:</h2>
<h3>3.&nbsp;6/38 - Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, The Oval, 1971:</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1750073057333_ENG-vs-IND,-1971---The-Oval,-London.jpeg" alt="ENG vs IND, 1971 - The Oval, London" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-680506" data-gramm="false">Bhagwat Chandrasekhar takes a wicket, ENG vs IND, 1971 - The Oval, London. (Photo source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s spell of 6/38 at The Oval in 1971 is one of the most iconic bowling performances by an Indian in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/england/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England</a>. This match-inning spell was the turning point that handed India its first-ever Test victory in England. On a spin-friendly surface, Chandrasekhar's brilliance with the ball in England's second innings, running through their lineup in 18.1 overs.
His leg-spin troubled the English batters, sending them packing for just 101, their lowest total against India since 1936. His victims included Brian Luckhurst, Ray Illingworth, Keith Fletcher, John Edrich, John Snow, and John Price. The visitors, needing 173 for victory, went on to reach the target with four wickets. The Karnataka-born finished the Test with eight wickets. Notably, in that series, he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps in six innings.

<h3>2.&nbsp;6/35 - Amar Singh, Lord's, 1936:</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1750073140388_Amar-Singh.jpeg" alt="Amar Singh" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption>Amar Singh. (Photo source: The Cricketer International)</figcaption>
</figure>
In the summer of 1936, the late Amar Singh registered his name on the iconic Lord’s Honours Board with a brilliant spell of 6 for 35, the second-best bowling figures by an <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> bowler in Tests on English soil. After India were bundled out for 147 in their first innings, Amar Singh exploited the conditions as he ran through the English batting line-up.
The home team was bowled out for just 134, giving India an upper hand. His victims included Arthur Mitchell, Harold Gimblett, Maurice Turnbull, Maurice Leyland, Bob Wyatt, and skipper Gubby Allen. Though India couldn’t capitalize on this momentum and eventually lost the match, Singh’s performance is still the best on English soil.

<h3>1.&nbsp;7/74 - Ishant Sharma, Lord's, 2014&nbsp;</h3>
<figure class="image" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1750073211327_Ishant-Sharma.jpeg" alt="Ishant Sharma" width="960" height="600" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-860926" data-gramm="false">Ishant Sharma. (Photo source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
Tall Indian pacer <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/ishant-sharma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ishant Sharma</a> tops this list with his career-best spell of 7/74 against England in 2014 at the Home of Cricket, Lord's. His impressive performance came in the second innings, guiding the side to a 95-run victory, their first win at the iconic venue in 28 years.
After Ajinkya Rahane’s 103 helped India post 295, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s six-wicket haul kept the hosts' lead to just 24. India, riding on Murali Vijay’s 95 and a crucial 99-run eighth-wicket stand between Ravindra Jadeja (68) and Bhuvneshwar (52), gave the visitors a target of 319.
On a flat Day 5 surface, England were in a good position, with Joe Root and Moeen Ali on the crease. That’s when skipper MS Dhoni handed the ball to Ishant and asked him to bowl short. Listening to his skipper, Ishant dismissed Moeen, Root, Matt Prior,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/ben-stokes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Stokes</a>, and Stuart Broad in his eight-over spell, leading to England being bowled out at 223. Despite being wicketless in the first innings, he delivered his best Test figures in the second and was subsequently named Player of the Match.&nbsp;

As India prepared for the upcoming five-match Test series in England starting June 20, all eyes are on newly appointed captain Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant. This tour is India's first series post the retirements of <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/virat-kohli/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Virat Kohli</a> and Rohit Sharma.
England’s swinging and seaming conditions are known to test the best batters. Over the years, Indian bowlers have come up to the occasion in these challenging conditions, delivering memorable spells. The English pitches tend to help seamers, especially with the Dukes ball and the overcast conditions. While India has won a Test series in England only thrice, in 1971, 1986, and 2007, these victories have often come due to brilliant bowling performances. Over the years, many Indian bowlers have come to England and understood the conditions well, playing them to their advantage.&nbsp;
<hr>
<h2>Iconic Test spells by Indian bowlers against England on English soil:</h2>
<h3>3.&nbsp;6/38 - Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, The Oval, 1971:</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1750073057333_ENG-vs-IND,-1971---The-Oval,-London.jpeg" alt="ENG vs IND, 1971 - The Oval, London" loading="lazy"><canvas class="lt-highlighter__canvas" width="64" height="20" style="display: none; top: 1px !important; left: 89px !important;"></canvas>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-680506" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Bhagwat Chandrasekhar takes a wicket, ENG vs IND, 1971 - The Oval, London. (Photo source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
Bhagwat Chandrasekhar’s spell of 6/38 at The Oval in 1971 is one of the most iconic bowling performances by an Indian in <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/england/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">England</a>. This match-inning spell was the turning point that handed India its first-ever Test victory in England. On a spin-friendly surface, Chandrasekhar's brilliance with the ball in England's second innings, running through their lineup in 18.1 overs.
His leg-spin troubled the English batters, sending them packing for just 101, their lowest total against India since 1936. His victims included Brian Luckhurst, Ray Illingworth, Keith Fletcher, John Edrich, John Snow, and John Price. The visitors, needing 173 for victory, went on to reach the target with four wickets. The Karnataka-born finished the Test with eight wickets. Notably, in that series, he was the joint-highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps in six innings.

<h3>2.&nbsp;6/35 - Amar Singh, Lord's, 1936:</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1750073140388_Amar-Singh.jpeg" alt="Amar Singh" loading="lazy">
<figcaption>Amar Singh. (Photo source: The Cricketer International)</figcaption>
</figure>
In the summer of 1936, the late Amar Singh registered his name on the iconic Lord’s Honours Board with a brilliant spell of 6 for 35, the second-best bowling figures by an <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-teams/india/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">India</a> bowler in Tests on English soil. After India were bundled out for 147 in their first innings, Amar Singh exploited the conditions as he ran through the English batting line-up.
The home team was bowled out for just 134, giving India an upper hand. His victims included Arthur Mitchell, Harold Gimblett, Maurice Turnbull, Maurice Leyland, Bob Wyatt, and skipper Gubby Allen. Though India couldn’t capitalize on this momentum and eventually lost the match, Singh’s performance is still the best on English soil.

<h3>1.&nbsp;7/74 - Ishant Sharma, Lord's, 2014&nbsp;</h3>
<figure class="image"><img src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/1750073211327_Ishant-Sharma.jpeg" alt="Ishant Sharma" loading="lazy"><canvas class="lt-highlighter__canvas" width="46" height="20" style="display: none; top: 1px !important; left: 318px !important;"></canvas>
<figcaption data-lt-tmp-id="lt-860926" spellcheck="false" data-gramm="false">Ishant Sharma. (Photo source: Getty Images)</figcaption>
</figure>
Tall Indian pacer <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/ishant-sharma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ishant Sharma</a> tops this list with his career-best spell of 7/74 against England in 2014 at the Home of Cricket, Lord's. His impressive performance came in the second innings, guiding the side to a 95-run victory, their first win at the iconic venue in 28 years.
After Ajinkya Rahane’s 103 helped India post 295, Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s six-wicket haul kept the hosts' lead to just 24. India, riding on Murali Vijay’s 95 and a crucial 99-run eighth-wicket stand between Ravindra Jadeja (68) and Bhuvneshwar (52), gave the visitors a target of 319.
On a flat Day 5 surface, England were in a good position, with Joe Root and Moeen Ali on the crease. That’s when skipper MS Dhoni handed the ball to Ishant and asked him to bowl short. Listening to his skipper, Ishant dismissed Moeen, Root, Matt Prior,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.crictracker.com/cricket-players/ben-stokes/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ben Stokes</a>, and Stuart Broad in his eight-over spell, leading to England being bowled out at 223. Despite being wicketless in the first innings, he delivered his best Test figures in the second and was subsequently named Player of the Match.&nbsp;
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As India prepared for the upcoming five-match Test series in England starting June 20, all eyes are on newly appointed captain Shubman Gill and his deputy Rishabh Pant. This tour is India's first seri

Test spells by IND bowlers against England on English soil

The English pitches tend to help seamers, especially with the Dukes ball and the overcast conditions.

Check out the top three greatest Test bowling performances by Indian bowlers against England on english pitches, only on CricTracker.

Top 3 iconic Test spells by Indian bowlers against England on English soil

The English pitches tend to help seamers, especially with the Dukes ball and the overcast conditions.

2. 6/35 - Amar Singh, Lord's, 1936: