Jammu and Kashmir cricketer Umran Malik is the fastest Indian bowler in world cricket.

While playing for Hyderabad in the Indian T20 League, Umran Malik bowled the fastest ball by an Indian bowler at 157kph against Delhi at the Brabourne Stadium on May 5, 2022.

Malik has consistently broken the 150kph barrier after recording speeds of 153.3kph,153.1kph, 153kph, 152.9kph, 152.6kph, 152.4kph, 152.3kph and 152kph during the 2022 edition of the Indian T20 League.

Malik has also bowled the fifth-fastest ball (154kph) in the Indian T20 League, overtaking New Zealand pacer Lockie Ferguson who clocked 153.9kph. The list is spearheaded by former Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait who had recorded a 157.71kph delivery in 2011.

Delhi pacer Mayank Yadav features second on the list of fastest Indian bowlers. Representing Team Lucknow, Yadav made his Indian T20 League debut against Team Lucknow in 2024. He recorded a 155.8kph delivery to Punjab captain Shikhar Dhawan. Mayank later produced the fastest ball of the Indian T20 League 2024 as he clocked 156.7kph against Bengaluru at the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan is third on the list of fastest Indian bowlers. The left-arm pacer recorded a 153.7 delivery against Pakistan during the inaugural edition of the ICC T20 World Cup in 2007.

Mohammed Shami has bowled the third-fastest delivery among India's fast bowlers in world cricket. The right-arm fast bowler delivered a 153.3kph during the third Test against Australia in Melbourne in 2014. Shami was the standout bowler in the series as he picked 15 wickets in three Tests at an average of 35.80.

Speedster Jasprit Bumrah is fourth on the list of fastest Indian bowlers. Bumrah clocked 153.26kph during the first Test against Australia in Adelaide in 2018. Bumrah was the wrecker-in-chief for the Indian cricket team in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as he bagged 21 wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 17.

Navdeep Saini completes the top five list of fastest Indian bowlers in world cricket. Saini recorded a 152.85kph delivery during the 2019 edition of the Indian T20 League. 

Interestingly, unofficial reports claim Javagal Srinath breached the 157kph mark during India’s tour of South Africa in 1996. However, the delivery hasn’t made it to the official list as the speed gun levels weren't as accurate.

The likes of Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav have also breached 152kph in international cricket.

Fastest Indian bowlers

Bowler	Fastest ball	Against	Year
Umran Malik	157kph	Delhi	2022
Mayank Yadav	156.7kph	Bengaluru	2024
Umran Malik	156kph	Delhi	2022
Umran Malik	156kph	Sri Lanka	2023
Mayank Yadav	155.8kph	Punjab	2024
Umran Malik	155kph	Sri Lanka	2023
Umran Malik	154kph	Chennai	2022
Mayank Yadav	153.9kph	Punjab	2024
Irfan Pathan	153.7kph	Pakistan	2007
Mohammed Shami	153.3kph	Australia	2014
Jasprit Bumrah	153.26kph	Australia	2018
Navdeep Saini	152.85kph	Mumbai	2019
Ishant Sharma	152.6kph	Australia	2008
Umesh Yadav	152.5kph	Sri Lanka	2012
Varun Aaron	152.5kph	Sri Lanka	2014

Featured photo: Indian T20 League

Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble has picked the most wickets for India across formats in international cricket.

Having made his international debut against England in a Test match in 1990, Kumble went on to claim 953 wickets for India in 401 matches at an average of 30.06.

The Bangalore-born cricketer ended his career with 619 Test wickets in 132 matches at an average of 29.65. He picked 35 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls. 

Kumble also played 269 One-Day International (ODI) matches between 1990 and 2007, bagging 334 wickets at an average of ​�?/span>30.83.

Among active players, Ravichandran Ashwin has the most wickets for India across formats. Ashwin features second on the list as he has scalped 744 wickets in 281 matches so far. The second-highest wicket-taker for India Tests, Ashwin has so far tallied 516 scalps in 100 Tests followed by 156 wickets in ODIs and 72 wickets in the T20Is.

Former spinner Harbhajan Singh is third on the list of most wickets for India across formats. The quality off-spinner picked 707 wickets in 365 matches at an average of 32.59.

Harbhajan made his Test debut against Australia in 1998 and ended his career with 417 wickets in 103 matches in the longest format.  

Fondly known as ‘The Turbantor�? Harbhajan also featured in 234 ODIs, claiming 265 wickets at an average of 33.47.

Former fast bowler Kapil Dev and seamer Zaheer Khan complete the top five list of most wickets for India across formats.

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, picked 687 wickets for India in 356 matches. An impressive 434 of those 687 wickets came in the longest format while 253 were picked in ODI cricket.

On the other hand, the 2011 World Cup winner Zaheer Khan bagged 597 wickets in 303 matches.

Most wickets for India across formats

Player	Test wickets	ODI wickets	T20I wickets	Total wickets
Anil Kumble	619	334	-	953
Ravichandran Ashwin	516	156	72	735
Harbhajan Singh	417	265	25	707
Kapil Dev	434	253	-	687
Zaheer Khan	311	269	17	597
Ravindra Jadeja	292	220	53	565
Javagal Srinath	236	315	-	551
Mohammed Shami	229	195	24	448
Ishant Sharma	311	115	8	434
Jasprit Bumrah	157	149	74	378

Featured photo: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP

Former leg-spinner Anil Kumble holds the record for the most Test wickets for India.

The Karnataka-born cricketer picked 619 wickets in 132 Test matches that included 35 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls. Kumble is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history.

In 1999, he etched his name into history books as he became just the second bowler to claim 10 wickets in an innings in a Test after England’s Jim Laker.

Since making his Test debut against England in 1990, Kumble played a vital role in helping India win Test matches against various opponents both at home and abroad. He formed a lethal partnership with India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, scalping a combined 501 wickets in 54 matches, the most by any spin bowling pair.

Kumble played his last Test match against Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla in 2008.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin features second on the list for most wickets for India in Tests. Ashwin overtook former captain Kapil Dev to climb second in the list for most wickets for India in Tests. The legendary bowler became the second Indian bowler to bag 500 wickets in Test cricket. He achieved the incredible feat during the third Test of England's tour of India 2024 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

. !

Only the second #TeamIndia cricketer to reach this landmark in Tests

Congratulations, @ashwinravi99 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/bP8wUs6rd0

�?BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024

Former India captain Kapil Dev is third-highest Test wicket-taker for India. The right-arm fast bowler picked 434 wickets in 131 matches at an average of 29.64.

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and seamer Ishant Sharma complete the top five list of most wickets for India in Tests.

While Harbhajan Singh has claimed 417 wickets in 103 matches. seamer Ishant Sharma has scalped 311 wickets in 105 matches.

Most Test wickets for India: Know the Top 10

Player	Matches	Wickets
Anil Kumble	132	619
Ravichandran Ashwin	100	516
Kapil Dev	131	434
Harbhajan Singh	103	417
Ishant Sharma	105	311
Zaheer Khan	92	311
Ravindra Jadeja	71	292
Bishan Bedi	67	266
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar	58	242
Javagal Srinath	67	236

Featured photo: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan currently holds the record for the most ducks in international cricket.

The term ‘duck�?in cricket refers to a batter getting dismissed without scoring a single run in an innings.

Having made his international debut against Australia in a Test match in 1992, Muralitharan recorded a total of 59 ducks in his career.

The tailender was dismissed for a duck on 33 occasions in Test cricket and 25 times in ODIs and only once in T20I cricket.

Legendary West Indies cricketer Courtney Walsh features second on the list for the most ducks in international cricket.

The West Indies fast bowler recorded 54 ducks in international cricket. Interestingly, Walsh currently holds the record for the most ducks in Test cricket as he was dismissed on 43 occasions without disturbing the scoreboard. The other 11 times he was out for a zero was in one-day internationals (ODIs). 

Curiously, former Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya, a world-class batter during his playing days, features third in the list of players with the most ducks in international cricket. 

After making his international debut against Australia in 1989, Jayasuriya ended his career with 53 ducks to his name. Jayasuriya holds the record for the most ducks in ODIs, having failed to open his account 34 times in the 50-over format. The swashbuckling opener registered 15 ducks in Test cricket and four ducks in T20 format.

Former Australia cricketer Glenn McGrath and England fast bowler Stuart Broad have recorded 49 ducks each in international cricket.

While McGrath recorded 49 ducks in 376 matches, Broad accumulated the same number of ducks in 329 matches.

Interestingly, McGrath has been dismissed for a duck on 35 occasions in Tests while Broad has been dismissed 39 times for duck - the second most in the longest format.

Another former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene is sixth on the list. Jayawardene registered 47 ducks in his international career. While the middle-order batter recorded 28 ducks in ODI format, he registered 15 ducks in Tests and four ducks in the T20 format.

Former New Zealand cricketer Daniel Vettori, Pakistan left-arm pacer Wasim Akram, India fast bowler Zaheer Khan and Australia leg-spinner Shane Warne complete the top 10 list for most ducks in international cricket. 

While Vettori ended his career with 46 ducks, Akram recorded 45 ducks in his international career. The Pakistani legend ended with the third-highest number of ducks in ODI cricket (28) while Vettori was dismissed without opening his account on 23 occasions in the 50-over format. 

On the other hand, Zaheer Khan and Shane Warne registered 44 ducks in international cricket. Warne recorded 34 ducks in Test cricket while Zaheer has 29 ducks in the longest format of the game. 

Among Indians, fast bowler Ishant Sharma has the most ducks in Test cricket (34) while Sachin Tendulkar has recorded the most ducks in ODI cricket (20). Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma has recorded the most ducks in T20 format, having been dismissed seven times without opening his account. 

Most ducks in international cricket

Player	Matches	Ducks
Muttiah Muralitharan	495	59
Courtney Walsh	337	54
Sanath Jayasuriya	586	53
Glenn McGrath	376	49
Stuart Broad	318	49
Mahela Jayawardene	652	47
Daniel Vettori	442	46
Wasim Akram	460	45
Zaheer Khan	309	44
Shane Warne	339	44

Featured photo: PAUL ELLIS / AFP

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The legendary Sachin Tendulkar touched on how his wife was his biggest support over the course of his career during his retirement speech.  

“Anjali, you are the best partnership that I had in my life,�?Tendulkar said during his epic farewell speech that melted hearts back in 2013. 

After all, behind every successful man, there is a woman and it is no different for the Indian cricketers who endure the rigorous grind and enormous pressure that comes with international cricket. 

With that in mind, here’s a list of a few popular Indian cricketers and their partners who are there through the highs and lows that are a part of any athlete’s career. 

Virat Kohli’s wife: Anushka Sharma

Popular Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma is Virat Kohli’s wife. She started her acting career in 2007 and starred opposite Shahrukh Khan in her debut film Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi in 2008. Virat and Anushka first met on the sets of a shampoo commercial in 2014. After many years of speculation, the duo finally got married in 2017. 

Hardik Pandya’s wife: Natasa Stankovic

Natasa Stankovic is Hardik Pandya’s wife. She is a Serbian model and actress who has featured in popular rap artist Badshah’s music video DJ Waley Babu. The duo reportedly met for the first time at a nightclub in Mumbai. Hardik and Natasa tied the knot on May 31, 2020. 

Rohit Sharma’s wife: Ritika Sajdeh

Rohit Sharma’s wife is Ritika Sajdeh. She is a professional sports manager and has worked with Cornerstone Sports and Entertainment. As per reports, Rohit and Ritika were introduced to each other by Yuvraj Singh during a Reebok shoot in 2008. After six years of seeing each other, they got married on December 13, 2015. 

Jasprit Bumrah’s wife: Sanjana Ganesan 

Popular TV model and presenter Sanjana Ganesan is Jasprit Bumrah’s wife. Jasprit Bumrah was first interviewed by Sanjana Ganesan during his initial years in the Indian T20 League. According to reports, the pair became close friends after the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) annual award show ‘Naman.�?They got married on March 15, 2021. 

Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife: Prithi Narayanan

Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife is Prithi Narayanan. Ashwin and Prithi were close friends since their school days and later studied in SSN College of Engineering and Technology in Chennai. The couple got married on November 11, 2013. Prithi has a B. Tech degree in Information Technology.

Ishant Sharma’s wife: Pratima Singh

Pratima Singh is Ishant Sharma’s wife. She has represented India in basketball at the international level. Both Ishant and Pratima met for the first time in a local basketball tournament where the Indian speedster was introduced by a friend to his future wife. After three years of courtship, the couple tied the knot on December 9, 2016.

Featured photo: Peter Parks / AFP 

Now that India have announced their squad of 15 players for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against New Zealand, discussions have intensified about who should make the XI for the match starting on Friday in Southampton, England.

The omission of Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul from the 15 means it is now likely that Indian cricket team will open the batting with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. 

Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane are certainties at Nos. 3, 4 and 5. Further, Rishabh Pant is also expected to don the keeping gloves ahead of Wriddhiman Saha.

That leaves the composition of the bowling attack as the biggest variable at the moment. Fast bowlers Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are more or less sure to play, as is Ravichandran Ashwin as the lead spinner.

This means a couple of spots in India’s playing XI for the WTC final are still up for grabs. There have been reports that the team management is keen to get Mohammed Siraj in for the WTC final, and that Ishant Sharma is no longer guaranteed a spot.

Mohammad Siraj vs Ishant Sharma

Now Mohammed Siraj surely has an outstanding first-class record and had also taken a five-wicket haul in the Brisbane Test against Australia in January. He also has a slightly better first-class average when dismissing left-handers �?21.63 �?compared to Ishant’s 24.36. It can also be argued that Siraj brings more variety to the pace attack, in that he is more of a release-and-swing bowler than Ishant, Shami and Bumrah, all of whom are more of the hit-the-deck type.

Ishant Sharma has also been breaking down more and more of late, as the workload of years of Test cricket has started taking its toll. There is probably little chance of him being able to pull through all the five Tests against England in August and September.

However, when it comes to as big an occasion as the WTC final, who would you rather have in your XI: a veteran with the experience of 101 Tests or a five-Test old rookie?

Further, as Ishant Sharma has matured over the years, his record in England has got better and better. He averaged 27.21 in the 2014 series and 24.27 on the 2018 tour, and no Indian bowler has taken more wickets (43) than him in England.

Ravindra Jadeja vs Hanuma Vihari

This leaves only the final spot to be taken. The Rose Bowl pitch does have a reputation for taking spin later in the game if the weather remains sunny. It was Moeen Ali’s off-spin that had sent India crashing to a series defeat in 2018 against England here. That was in the first week of September, though, and we are in mid-June now, when the weather is usually wetter and the pitches fresher.

Southampton has had warm weather in recent days but rain is forecast on five of the six days designated for the WTC final. The maximum temperature is not expected to touch even 20 degrees. Such match-day conditions do not demand the inclusion of a second spinner. However, the pitch would surely have taken some baking in the sun leading up to the game.

It will be a tricky decision to make: whether to play Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Hanuma Vihari, who will be the sixth batsman and part-time off-spinner, leaving the bowling a bit thin. Knowing Virat Kohli, he will rather strengthen the bowling than the batting. Jadeja’s chances do appear brighter, and he and Ashwin will provide some batting depth for sure.

A left-field decision would be to play four specialist fast bowlers in Ishant, Shami, Bumrah and Siraj plus Ashwin as the lone spinner. India’s long tail will start at No 8 in that case, and increase the batting pressure on Pant and Ashwin; it is a risky call, but will also mean a fresher and more varied pace attack in what are likely to be helpful conditions.

India’s 15-member squad for WTC final: Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav

Featured photo: DAVID GRAY / Randy Brooks / William WEST /Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is confident about facing New Zealand in the World Test Championship (WTC) final and believes the Indian bowling attack is better than the Kiwis�?

“Obviously, we are (better than Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner),�?Shami told Sports Tak.  

“If you see our records, you will have an idea of what I'm talking about.�?/span>

Much of India’s recent success in the longest format can be ascribed to the fact that the pacers have stepped up, bowling sides out comfortably in overseas conditions. Recent history in South Africa and Australia is a testimony to that.

“Fans don't become fans overnight; they know the entire history. We have done a lot of homework to build this fast-bowling trio of me, Ishant Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah,�?the pacer added. 

“When we play Test cricket, even if someone is having a bad day the other bowlers step up. When someone is down, we make sure to pick up that teammate and carry the team forward as a unit. We try to cheer him up as well.�?/span>

Shami, who is just 20 wickets away from becoming the fifth Indian fast bowler to get 200 Test wickets, also opined that the conditions at The Rose Bowl won’t favour one team over the other. 

“Conditions won't be one-sided for either team. It will be a good match I think, both teams are balanced and solid. I don't think either team will leave any loose point,�?the Bengal cricketer reckoned.

Shami hasn’t played for India after getting hit on his wrist in the Adelaide Test in December 2020 but is keen to represent the country once again in the longer format. The 30-year-old will make a comeback in the WTC final and has also been included in the five-match red-ball series against England. 

Featured photo: Indranil MUKHERJEE / AFP

After years of hits and misses, Team Delhi reached their maiden finals of the Indian T20 League in the 2020 edition but finished as the second-best. This was seen as a sign of rejuvenation for a team that often stalled when a winning opportunity knocked on the door.

With Rishabh Pant taking over as Delhi captain in place of the injured Shreyas Iyer, onlookers are curious if the franchise can indeed end their title drought this year. However, considering their performances last term - where they lost just two league games in the first nine before winning one in the last five, consistency is something the 23-year-old will demand from his team-mates.

Delhi kick off their Indian T20 League 2021 season against Chennai at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, April 10, and upon closer look of their squad depth, it is safe to say the franchise can possibly go the distance in the latest edition.

Team Delhi squad

Shreyas Iyer’s absence is a massive blow to Delhi’s batting strategy in the Indian T20 League but the team can somehow fill the void with some powerful knocks from Steve Smith - acquired for a meagre fee of Rs 2.20 crores.

The 2020 finalists retained 19 players and released six players - which included the likes of Alex Carey, Keemo Paul and Jason Roy - ahead of the February auctions.

 

• Are Team Mumbai equipped to win their sixth Indian T20 League title?

 

With a purse of Rs 13.40 crores, Delhi weren’t expected to do much business but by adding Smith, Sam Billings (Rs 2 crores) and Umesh Yadav (Rs 1 crore), the team bolstered their options in the batting and pace bowling sector.

England all-rounder Tom Curran was the most expensive buy at Rs 5.25 crore and much will be expected from him in a pace line-up that consists of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Ishant Sharma, besides the 33-year-old Yadav.

Team Delhi squad for Indian T20 League 2021: Shreyas Iyer (ruled out), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (captain and wicket-keeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Marcus Stoinis, Chris Woakes, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Lalit Yadav, Pravin Dubey, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Ishant Sharma, Avesh Khan, Steve Smith, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, Manimaran Siddarth, Tom Curran, Sam Billings

Team Delhi strength and weakness

Strengths:

Delhi is one of the few teams whose batting line-up is quite intimidating, and their performances in the 2020 season showcased their intent to challenge for the title. The likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Rishabh Pant will be charged with laying the foundations for match-winning totals.

 

• Can Rajasthan finally find a good balance in Indian T20 League 2021 season?

 

Prithvi Shaw, who had a forgettable campaign with Delhi last term, warmed up for the upcoming season with 800-plus runs in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and will look to prove his detractors wrong.

In Marcus Stoinis, Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, Delhi have some quality all-rounders who can chip in runs and also take wickets to place the tide of an Indian T20 League in their favour.

The middle-order batters had smashed 1290 runs last season, the most by batsmen in the #4 - #7 slot and the addition of Sam Billings should give an exciting injection to Delhi.

Weakness:

The presence of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Ishant Sharma already made Delhi’s bowling attack something for opposition to fear. But, it is their tendency to leak runs in crucial periods - such as the death overs - which could ultimately cost them a win. They have conceded 595 runs in the powerplay overs - third-most by any team. Pant must devise an effective plan around his bowlers and see that his strengths in the batting and bowling departments are equally balanced.

• Three things Delhi should do to win their maiden title

 

 

For Rishabh Pant, there isn’t a recognised wicket-keeper back-up for him in the Delhi team. Considering the new captain will have new responsibilities to shoulder, and fatigue likely to take a toll on him, the Ricky Ponting-coached team will have to shift their team dynamics should they give the keeping duties to Sam Billings.

Who can be the highest run-scorer for Team Delhi?

Rishabh Pant has had an enjoyable 2021 so far, with a string of match-winning performances in the recent series against England convincing the management to hand him the reigns of the Delhi captaincy. The 23-year-old has stacked 2079 runs in just 68 games at an average and strike rate of 35.23 and 151.97 respectively, a sign that he is prepared to anchor Delhi’s charge for a maiden Indian T20 League crown.

Who can be the highest wicket-taker for Team Delhi?

Looking up at Delhi’s bowling options, one can simply say the Kagiso Rabada will be the champion bowler for the team in the 2021 edition. However, those who have followed the league closely, Amit Mishra will be the leading contender to play a key role in the upcoming campaign. The 38-year-old, with 160 wickets in the T20 extravaganza, featured in three games last term before a finger injury ended his campaign. Mishra is on the cusp of two major milestones - 11 wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in the Indian T20 League and five matches to become the first Delhi player with 100 appearances in the cash-rich league.

Where will Team Delhi finish in Indian T20 League 2021?

Delhi’s current team roster is an indication that they could make it into the playoffs round at the very least, and the presence of experienced figures in Dhawan, Ashwin, Smith and Rahane will be influential to their cause. But at the end of the day, it all comes down to perfect execution of their strengths and that is something Rishabh Pant will need to work in tandem with head coach Ricky Ponting.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Sajjad Hussain

The Indian cricket team needs 381 runs on the fifth day of the ongoing Test against England after off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin scalped six wickets to end the visitors�?second innings on 178 runs at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday.

The hosts were 39 for one at stumps on Day 4 with Shubman Gill (batting 15) and Cheteshwar Pujara (batting 12) at the crease after England set them a target of 420 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match Test series.

Team India’s highest successful chase in Tests is 406/4, which came way back in 1976 in the West Indies. MS Dhoni-led India had also successfully chased 387 against England in 2008 in Chennai. 

Earlier in the day, Ashwin bagged his 28th five-wicket haul to dismiss the visitors for 178 an hour before the close of play. The 34-year-old finished with figures of 6/61.

A bowling spell to cherish for @ashwinravi99 at his home ground.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/1j9tmXmPYw

�?BCCI (@BCCI) February 8, 2021

Interestingly, Ashwin also emulated a 114-year-record after he started the proceedings for India with the new ball and also took a wicket off his first ball. The Chennai-born cricketer became just the third spinner and first since South Africa's Bert Vogler to pick up a wicket off the first ball of an innings in Tests. Vogler had registered the milestone in 1907 in a Test match against England at The Oval.

R Ashwin is the first spinner in over 100 years to take a wicket off the first ball of an innings!

Bobby Peel, 1888
Bert Vogler, 1907
R Ashwin, 2021#INDvENG

�?ESPNcricinfo stats (@ESPNcric_stats) February 8, 2021

England's Bobby Peel was the first-ever spinner to take a wicket off the first delivery of an innings in 1888 in Manchester against Australia.

Meanwhile, Ishant Sharma became the third Indian pacer and the sixth Indian bowler to get to 300 Test wickets when he dismissed Daniel Lawrence. 

3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣

Congratulations @ImIshant. He becomes the third Indian fast bowler to take 300 Test wickets. He traps Lawrence in the front as England lose their third wicket. #TeamIndia #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/fgKJnae4nm

�?BCCI (@BCCI) February 8, 2021

Twitter reacted to Ashwin’s five-wicket haul, Ishant reaching 300 wickets milestone in Tests and England’s delayed declaration.

Well done @ashwinravi99 for yet another 6 wicket haul.. keep it up

�?Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) February 8, 2021

28th five-wicket haul for @ashwinravi99 one of the Greats in the history of the game and this will be more special with this ground being his home. Most five-wicket hauls in Tests since January 2010 for this man! Congratulations Ash. #EngvsInd @StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/gEWl2A0jOX

�?VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 8, 2021

At home or anywhere overseas, Ravichandran Ashwin @ashwinravi99 is the best spin bowler in the world by some distance. Probably the best bowler of all times, with Pat Cummins close somewhere. Plus, he can bat hours to save away Tests on wearing pitches...#INDvENG

�?Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) February 8, 2021

What an achievement @ImIshant Congratulations on becoming the third Indian pacer to reach the 300-wicket milestone in Tests. Always admired your work ethic and commitment towards the game especially this format. And you thoroughly deserve this rich reward. #INDvsENG pic.twitter.com/kWwCN0zN47

�?VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) February 8, 2021

Wicket number 300 for @ImIshant reinvented himself as a bowler and kept on improving. That’s a huge huge achievement. Just brilliant in Aus in 2008 and then lost a little before coming back as a champion bowler again. Congrats.

�?Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) February 8, 2021

Ishant Sharma in Tests:

First 49 matches:
Wickets - 138.
Average - 38.53.
Strike Rate - 68.98.

Next 49 matches:
Wickets - 162.
Average - 26.98.
Strike Rate - 54.4.

-A complete different and probably India's best Test bowler since 2013.

�?Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 8, 2021

Very surprised England haven’t declared yet & why aren’t they trying to get 400 asap? England batted to long in the 1st innings too & now letting the game drift & showing no urgency at all. Surely they are better of bowling now than wasting overs not scoring any runs @SkyCricket

�?Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) February 8, 2021

I think he is being get too cautious and is giving India a good chance of getting out of this Test with a draw .. http://t.co/OYGVe8UToI

�?Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 8, 2021

Ashwin is overjoyed with Root's decision to bat on. But do India want this last wicket?

�?Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 8, 2021

England had bowled India out for 337 runs in their first innings after the visitors had posted a mammoth 578 runs in their first innings. 

Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ICC

Exceptional bowling displays have previously decided outcomes in India vs England Test encounters on more than one occasion. And with the Indian cricket team hosting England in Chennai for the first Test, the twisting and turning nature of the turf is bound to gain a lot of traction.

India’s very first tryst with England was also their first-ever game in the Test format, when a certain Mohammad Nissar had laid the foundations with his five-wicket haul in their maiden overseas Test match. He did repeat the feat later, more than once.

Over the years, the likes of Anil Kumble, Bhagwat Chandrashekhar, Kapil Dev, and Bishan Singh Bedi have all anchored India’s bowling in the 100-plus Tests played between the cricket giants.

We take a look at the most memorable spells bowled by Indian bowlers in an India-England Test.

Vinoo Mankad - 8/55 (1952)

Mulvantrai Himmatlal Mankad, commonly known as Vinoo Mankad, pioneered the all-rounder role for the Indian cricket team, and holds the record for the best bowling performance by an Indian bowler.

In the 1952 Test at Madras, Mankad’s subtle variations and supreme control over his amount of spin saw Jack Robertson and the English batting order fail to sustain the pressure and fall to 266 runs in the first innings. In the following inning, the all-rounder scalped four wickets to wrap up the contest with a victory of an inning and eight runs.

The legendary player went on to pick up 54 wickets in 11 matches against England, at a healthy average of 23.12, and was the catalyst for the country’s early rise in red-ball cricket.

Ravindra Jadeja - 7/48 (2016)

Ravindra Jadeja has grown into a Mr. Dependable for India in recent years, be it with the bat, ball, or in the field. But, if one has to pick one of his memorable performances as a player, it will be his seven-wicket haul in the 2016 Test at Chennai.

It's all over. Ball goes for 0 to Jadeja, who finishes with 7-48, & England are 207 all out. We lose by an innings & 75 runs #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/uH0ItPems6

�?England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 20, 2016

Team India was in the driver’s seat following breathtaking displays from Karun Nair (303) and KL Rahul (199), but after England piled up 102/0 by the 39th over, they needed some injection from Jadeja to set the course of the game.

The all-rounder’s 7/48 was the sixth instance where he bagged five or more wickets for India in Test matches, and it was also the third-best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against England in Tests.

Ishant Sharma - 7/74 (2014)

A victory at the iconic Lord’s is no ordinary feat and India have worn it as a badge of pride on multiple occasions. The 95-run win in 2014 was India’s first win in 28 years at the Mecca of cricket, but it was also a testament to Ishant Sharma’s sheer will to showcase his tenacity.

2 - Ishant Sharma's 7-74 are the 2nd best figures by an overseas bowler in a team 2nd innings at Lord's. Destroyer. pic.twitter.com/Y9aEJiaF9W

�?OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 21, 2014

After he went wicketless in the first innings despite bowling 24 overs, the pacer was under pressure to make a strong comeback against a team that was sailing towards a win. Post the 27th over of England’s chase of 314, Ishant got the wickets of Ian Bell and Alastair Cook in successive deliveries to kickstart his rampage of wickets.

Not only had Ishant Sharma got his name on the honours board at Lord’s, but also became the first Indian bowler to take that many wickets on English soil. The win was India’s only positive result in their 1-3 series loss in their 2014 tour, but will forever be remembered as the ‘Ishant Test�?

Feature image courtesy: AFP / David Gray