Old Trafford is one of the oldest cricket grounds located in Greater Manchester, England.

Established in 1857, the Old Trafford opened as the home of Manchester Cricket Club and has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since 1864.

Old Trafford hosted its first international cricket match, an Ashes Test played between arch-rivals England and Australia in July 1884 and became England’s second oldest Test venue. The match ended in a draw.

Almost a century later in 1972, it staged its first One-Day International (ODI) that featured England and Australia. Under the leadership of Brian Close, England won the first-ever ODI at the venue by six wickets.

Old Trafford hosted its first T20 international played between hosts England and New Zealand in Manchester in June 2008. Since then, it has staged more than 10 T20 internationals so far.

With a seating capacity of around 19,000, the stadium is currently known as Emirates Old Trafford due to a sponsorship deal with the Emirates airline.

With that being said, let’s have a look at Old Trafford T20I records and stats.

Old Trafford T20I records and stats

Highest total

The England cricket team holds the record for the highest total at Old Trafford in T20 international cricket. During the second T20I of Pakistan’s tour of England in August 2020, the Eoin Morgan-led hosts posted 199/5 in 19.1 overs while chasing Pakistan’s 195/4 in Manchester. England rode on captain Morgan’s 66, Dawid Malan’s unbeaten 54 and wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow’s quick-fire 44 to record the highest T20I total at the venue during their successful run-chase. While England won the second T20I by five wickets, the three-match series later ended 1-1.

Lowest total

The New Zealand cricket team registered the lowest total at Old Trafford in the T20 international format. Chasing 199, New Zealand were bundled out for 103 in 13.5 overs against England in the second T20I in September 2023. Wicketkeeper-batter Tim Seifert top-scored for New Zealand with 39 while Glenn Phillips added 22. For England, right-arm pacer Gus Atkinson was the wrecker-in-chief with 4/20. Earlier, Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 86 off 60 balls and Harry Brook’s 36-ball 67 powered England to 198/4 in their 20 overs. England won the game by 95 runs in Manchester.

Most runs

Former England captain Eoin Morgan has recorded the most runs at Old Trafford in  T20 international cricket. Between 2011 and 2021, the flamboyant southpaw amassed 185 runs in nine T20Is at an average of 23.12 and a strike rate of 160.86. Morgan slammed one T20 international fifty at the venue. Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez features second on the list with 156 runs in four matches at a strike rate of 173.33 while also maintaining an average of 78.

Most wickets

England spinner Adil Rashid has picked up the most wickets at this venue in the T20 international format. The star leg-spinner has scalped 11 wickets in eight T20I matches at an average of 19.27 and an economy of 8.15. Rashid’s best T20I bowling figures of 4/35 at Old Trafford came in a win against Pakistan in 2021. The likes of former England fast bowler Stuart Broad and Pakistan’s duo of Shadab Khan and Imad Wasim are second on the list with six wickets each.

Highest individual score

India’s KL Rahul registered the highest individual score at this ground in T20 international cricket. Batting at number three, the swashbuckling right-handed batter slammed an unbeaten 101 off 54 balls against England in the first T20I of a three-match series in July 2018. Chasing 160, Rahul hammered 10 fours and five sixes to guide India to an eight-wicket win in Manchester. Earlier, England posted 159/8 in their 20 overs with the help of Jos Buttler’s 46-ball 69.

Best bowling figures

India’s star spinner Kuldeep Yadav has the best bowling figures at Old Trafford in the T20 international format. The talented left-arm wrist spin bowler recorded match-winning figures of 5/24 against hosts England in the first T20I of a three-match series in July 2018. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed England’s Jos Buttler, Alex Hales, captain Eoin Morgan, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root to restrict England to 159/8 in their 20 overs. Kuldeep’s incredible spell and Rahul’s brilliant century guided an eight-wicket victory in Manchester.

Highest partnership

England’s Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook hold the record for the highest partnership at Old Trafford In T20 international cricket. Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook forged a 131-run stand for the third wicket against New Zealand in the second T20I of a four-match series in September 2023. While Jonny Bairstow slammed an unbeaten 86, Harry Brook smashed 67 to help England post a huge total of 198/4 in their 20 overs. England later bowled out New Zealand for 103 to win the game by 95 runs.

Photo credit: Imago

The India vs South Africa cricket rivalry is one of the most enthralling rivalries in modern-day cricket.

An India vs South Africa cricket match is one of the most-awaited fixtures in the cricketing calendar, be it home or away or any format of the game.

India was the first team to invite South Africa for a three-match One-Day International series in November 1991 after the apartheid policy had kept them out of international cricket for more than 20 years.

That was the first meeting between the sides with India winning the series 2-1. From then on, both India and South Africa have been part of some exciting duels in Tests, ODIs and T20Is.

India and South Africa have met each other at the international stage on 164 occasions with South Africa being victorious 80 times and India winning 70 matches. There have been 10 draws with four matches ending without a result.

South Africa are marginally ahead in the race in the longest format of the game with 18 wins compared to India’s 16. A total of 10 matches out of the total 44 have ended in draws.

Incidentally, the rainbow nation remains the final frontier for the Men in Blue as they are yet to win a Test series in South Africa. The last series in December-January 2023-24 in South Africa ended in a draw with both teams winning one Test each.

In ODIs too, South Africa hold a superior record with 51 wins from 94 matches. India have won 40 ODIs with three of them getting abandoned without a result. Sachin Tendulkar created history by becoming the first player to score a double-hundred in ODI cricket, in a contest against South Africa at Gwalior in 2010. 

Coming to the shortest format of the game, India holds the edge in T20Is with 14 victories from 26 matches. South Africa follow closely with 11 wins and a game being abandoned.

With that being said, let’s have a look at India vs South Africa head-to-head in cricket.

India vs South Africa head-to-head in cricket

Format	Matches	India wonÂ	South Africa wonÂ	Draw/Tie/NR
Test	44	16	18	10
ODI	94	40	51	3
T20I	26	14	11	1
Total	164	70	80	14

India vs South Africa in World Cups

Tournament	Matches	India wonÂ	South Africa wonÂ	Draw/Tie/NR
50-over World Cup	6	3	3	0
T20 World Cup	6	4	2	0
Total	12	7	5	0

India vs South Africa cricket records and stats

India vs South Africa in Tests

Highest team total in a Test innings: India scored 643/6d against South Africa in the second Test at Eden Gardens in 2010. 

Lowest team total in a Test innings: India bowled South Africa out for 55 in the second Test in Cape Town in 2024.

Highest individual score in Tests: Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag scored 319 against South Africa in the first Test in Chennai in 2008. 

Best bowling figures in Tests: India’s Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 12/98 against South Africa in the third Test in Nagpur in 2015. 

India vs South Africa in ODIs 

Highest team total in ODIs: South Africa posted 438/4 against India in the fifth ODI at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in 2015. 

Lowest team total in ODIs: India bowled South Africa out for 83 in the 2023 ODI World Cup clash at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Highest individual score in ODIs: India’s legendary Sachin Tendulkar scored 200* against South Africa in the second ODI at Captain Roop Singh Stadium in Gwalior in 2010. 

Best bowling figures in ODIs: India’s Sunil Joshi picked up 5/6 against South Africa in the second match of the LG Cup at the Gymkhana Club Ground in Nairobi in 1999. 

India vs South Africa in T20Is

Highest team total in T20Is: India scored 237/3 against South Africa in the second T20I in Guwahati in 2022. 

Lowest team total in T20Is: India bowled South Africa out for 87 in the fourth T20I in Rajkot in 2022. 

Highest individual score in T20Is: David Miller’s unbeaten 106 for South Africa in the second T20I in Guwahati in 2022 is the highest individual score registered in this fixture.

Best bowling figures in T20Is: India’s Kuldeep Yadav picked up 5/17 against South Africa in the third T20I at Johannesburg in 2023.

Photo credit: Alamy

Established in 1990, the Holkar Cricket Stadium is located in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Earlier known as Maharani Usharaje Trust Cricket Ground, the Holkar Cricket Stadium has a seating capacity of 30,000. The venue is furnished with flood lights for night fixtures.

Owned by the Madhya Pradesh Cricket Association, the Indore Cricket Stadium was renamed in 2010 after the Holkar dynasty of the Marathas that ruled the state. The city of Indore also has another international cricket stadium - the Nehru Stadium - which used to host international fixtures till 2001.

In April 2006, the Holkar Cricket Stadium hosted its first international fixture - an One-Day International (ODI) match between India and England. The hosts defeated the England side by seven wickets. The ground later staged its first Test match in October 2016 and T20 international in December 2017.

Since then, the venue has staged three T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests.

The last time the Men in Blue played a T20I at this venue in Indore, they lost by 49 runs against South Africa in October 2022. 

Let’s have a look at the T20I records at the Holkar Cricket Stadium.

Holkar Cricket Stadium T20I records and stats

Highest total: India’s 260/5 against Sri Lanka is the highest T20I total at this venue. Put in to bat, India rode on captain Rohit Sharma’s blitzkrieg 43-ball 118 and KL Rahul’s 89 off 49 balls to post their highest-ever T20I score in their allotted 20 overs in the second match of the series in December 2017. In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 172 in 17.2 overs to succumb to a 88-run defeat.

Lowest total: Sri Lanka’s 142/9 against India, posted in January 2020, is the lowest T20I total at the Holkar Cricket Stadium. With India electing to field first, Shardul Thakur picked three wickets while Navdeep Saini and Kuldeep Yadav bagged two wickets each to restrict Sri Lanka to a paltry total in their 20 overs. Later, openers KL Rahul (45), Shikhar Dhawan (32), along with contributions from Shreyas Iyer (34) and captain Virat Kohli (30 not out), helped the hosts chase down the total in 17.3 overs and secure a seven-wicket win in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

Highest individual score: India’s star batter Rohit Sharma has registered the highest individual score at this ground. Playing a T20I against Sri Lanka in 2017, Rohit Sharma smashed 118 off just 43 balls at the Holkar Cricket Stadium. Rohit’s match-winning inning was laced with 12 fours and 10 sixes.

Best bowling figures: India spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has the best bowling figures at this venue in T20I cricket. The leg-spinner claimed four wickets in his four overs against Sri Lanka in a T20 fixture in December 2017. However, Chahal was expensive as he conceded 52 runs in the 24 balls that he bowled. He finished with figures of 4-0-52-4.

Most runs: KL Rahul has scored the most runs at Holkar Cricket Stadium in T20I format. India’s opening batter has accumulated 134 runs in two matches at an average of 67 and at a strike rate of 165.43. Rohit Sharma is second on the list with 118 runs.

Most wickets: Kuldeep Yadav has scalped the most wickets at this venue in Indore in the shortest format. The left-arm chinaman bowler has picked five wickets in two matches at an average of 18. Meanwhile, Kuldeep Yadav’s spin partner Yuzvendra Chahal features second on the list with four wickets.

Highest partnership: India’s Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul have the highest partnership at this venue in T20I cricket. The duo forged a scintillating 165-run stand for the opening wicket against Sri Lanka in 2017. India won the match by 88 runs.

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Featured photo: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP

The Trent Bridge Cricket Ground is one of the oldest cricket stadiums located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England.

Established in 1841, the Trent Bridge is built just across the River Trent from the city of Nottingham and was first opened by William Clarke, husband of the proprietress of the Trent Bridge Inn. 

It is the home ground of the England national cricket team and the Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.

The Trent Bridge staged its first One-Day International (ODI) between hosts England and Pakistan in August 1974. The Intikhab Alam-led Pakistan won the match by seven wickets. Since then, it has hosted more than 50 ODIs so far.

It has also staged a few ODI World Cup matches in 1975, 1979, 1983, 1999 and 2019.

Let’s have a look at Trent Bridge ODI records and stats:

Trent Bridge ODI records and stats

Highest team total

The England cricket team holds the record for the highest team total at the Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in ODI cricket. During the third ODI of Australia’s tour of England in 2018, the hosts posted a mammoth total of 481/6 in their 50 overs in Nottingham. Jonny Bairstow (139), Alex Hales (147), Jason Roy (82) and captain Eoin Morgan (67) helped England register the second highest total in ODI history. In reply, Australia were bowled out for 239 as England secured a massive 242-run victory. Eoin Morgan’s men won the five-match ODI series 5-0.

Lowest team total

The South Africa cricket team recorded the lowest team total at Trent Bridge in the ODI format. Electing to bat first, South Africa were bundled out for 83 in 23 overs by England during the second ODI of the five-match series in 2008. Andre Nel was top-scorer for South Africa with 13. For England, fast bowler Stuart Broad was the wrecker-in-chief as he picked up five wickets for 23 runs in his quota of 10 overs. England later chased down the target in just 14.1 overs and won the match by 10 wickets.

Most runs

Former England cricketer Eoin Morgan has the most runs at this venue in the 50-over format. Between 2009 and 2019, the former England captain amassed 471 runs in 14 matches at an average of 42.81 and an impressive strike rate of 123.62. He slammed one hundred and three fifties in ODI cricket on this ground. Compatriot Alex Hales features second on the list with 441 runs in just six ODIs.

Most wickets

England fast bowler James Anderson bagged the most wickets at this ground in ODI cricket. The legendary pacer scalped 16 ODI wickets in eight matches at an average of 21.18 and an economy of 5.11. He registered best bowling figures of 4/55 on this ground in the ODI format. Anderson’s long-time bowling partner Stuart Broad is second on the list with 14 wickets in seven matches.

Highest individual score

England’s Alex Hales holds the record for the highest individual score at the Trent Bridge in the 50-over format. Opening the batting, Alex Hales smashed 171 off just 122 balls against Pakistan during the third ODI of a five-match series in 2016. Hales�knock powered England to 444/3 in their allotted 50 overs. His magnificent knock was laced with 22 fours and four sixes. England later bowled out Pakistan for 275 to register a comprehensive 169-run victory.

Best bowling figures

Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav registered the best bowling figures at this venue in one-day cricket. During the first ODI of India’s tour of England in 2018, the left-arm chinaman recorded brilliant figures of 6/25 to help restrict the hosts to 268. Kuldeep removed England’s Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and David Willey. India later rode on Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 137 to chase down the target in 40.1 overs and secured an eight-wicket win.

Highest partnership

England’s Alex Hales and Joe Root hold the record for the highest partnership at Trent Bridge in ODI cricket. In the third match of a five-game series, Alex Hales and Joe Root forged a massive 248-run partnership for the second wicket against Pakistan in Nottingham in 2016. While Hales hammered a 122-ball 171, Root scored 85 off 86 balls. England won the match by 169 runs.

Photo credit: Alamy

Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav became the fastest to 50 T20I wickets for India. 

Kuldeep reached the milestone in his 29th innings for India during the third international against West Indies at the Providence Stadium in Guyana in 2023.

The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer registered impressive figures of 3/28 to help India beat West Indies by seven wickets in the third T20I of the five-match series.

Kuldeep broke Yuzvendra Chahal’s record to become the fastest to 50 T20I wickets for India. The leg-spinner took 34 innings to reach 50 T20I wickets.

Chahal has currently bagged 95 T20I wickets in 78 matches at an average of 24.44 and an economy of 8.11 for India

The Men in Blue’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah is third on the list for fastest to 50 T20I wickets for India. The Indian bowling spearhead achieved the feat in 41 innings.

Bumrah has managed to pick up 70 T20I wickets in 60 matches at an average of 20.22 and an economy of 6.62 in his T20 international career so far.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar complete the top five list for fastest to 50 T20I wickets for India.

While Ashwin scalped 50 T20I wickets in 42 innings, Bhuvneshwar reached the milestone in 50 innings.

Between 2010 and 2022, Ashwin has claimed 72 T20I wickets in 65 matches. On the other hand, Bhuvneshwar has scalped 90 wickets in 87 T20I matches so far.

Overall, Botswana leg-spinner Dhruvkumar Maisuria holds the record for the fastest to 50 T20 wickets in international cricket. The talented spinner took just 22 matches to reach 50 T20I wickets.

Among full member ICC nations, Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis was the quickest to 50 T20 wickets in international cricket.

After making his T20I debut against Zimbabwe, Mendis reached the incredible milestone in 26 matches during an ICC World T20 clash against Pakistan in 2012.

Fastest to 50 T20I wickets for India

Player	Innings
Kuldeep Yadav	29
Yuzvendra Chahal	34
Jasprit Bumrah	41
Ravichandran Ashwin	42
Bhuvneshwar Kumar	50

Photo credit: Alamy

One of the best parts about cricket is the variety of ways players can achieve their objectives. Whether it’s scoring runs or taking wickets, what makes cricket so very fascinating and interesting is that there’s more than just a singular way to get the result you want.

Perhaps it’s this variety that sets cricket apart from other sports and one of its most unique variations which is rare to find is the Chinaman bowler.

In essence, a Chinaman bowler is a type of left-arm spinner who bowls leg spin. These types of bowlers aren’t easy to find and it is their rarity that further adds to their mystique with batters not always sure about what approach to take or what to expect against the Chinaman spinner.

A rather difficult craft to master, not many players have managed to consistently perform using this variation of bowling at the highest level.

It takes a lot of skill, patience, as well as determination to master and can be a very potent weapon for teams when executed correctly.

With that in mind, let’s dive into what is Chinaman bowling and how this rare art in cricket works.

What is Chinaman bowling?

So, what is Chinaman bowling? Well, put simply, when a bowler who is left-handed bowls leg spin or unorthodox spin, it is known as Chinaman bowling. 

The bowler in this case is called the Chinaman and he bowls these mysterious variations primarily through his wrist work.

The Chinaman bowler mostly uses his wrists to spin the ball, similar to how a right-arm spinner bowls off-breaks.

Unlike most orthodox left-arm spinners who generally turn the ball away from right-handers, the Chinaman spinner does the exact opposite by bringing the ball back into the right-hander.

This spin variation can be deceptive to the right-hander at the crease and can make it difficult to deal with Chinaman spinners as the batter instinctively expects the ball to turn away from him. This element of surprise is what makes the Chinaman spinners such potent weapons against batters.

While the Chinaman bowler’s stock delivery is bringing to ball into the right-hander or leaving a left-hander, he can be even more effective should he possess other variations to confuse the batter.

For example, if a left-arm Chinaman knows how to also take away the ball from right-handers or into left-handers, then his stock ball becomes even more dangerous as batters can never be sure about what to expect and which way the ball will turn.

It’s for this reason along with the fact that they are a rare commodity whose bowling actions can at times come across as awkward that makes Chinaman bowlers such great viewing for the neutral and a nightmare for batters.

To sum up, Chinaman bowlers are basically the opposite of traditional orthodox left-arm spinners because they spin the ball back into the right-hander as opposed to taking it away. 

In keeping with the type of bowler, the origin of the label Chinaman bowler is also entrenched in mystique. So where exactly did this name come from? Let’s find out.

Origin of Chinaman bowling

There are several theories that delve into where Chinaman bowling originated from. Here, we’ll be exploring all of them.

One of the earliest exponents of such bowling is believed to be Charlie Llewellyn, who was a South African all-rounder that played towards the end of the 19th century. Llewellyn was a left-handed batter who was also known to bowl dangerous slow left-arm wrist spin that other batters found difficult to read, making him one of the pioneers of Chinaman bowling.

That said, as far as the cricketing history books are concerned, West Indies spinner Ellis ‘Puss�Achong and Chinaman bowling go hand in hand. The first Test player of Chinese origin, during a Test between England and the Windies at Old Trafford in 1933 Achong took English batter Walter Robins by surprise with a ball that turned back sharply from the line of the off stump.

If folklore is to be believed, Robins was left so frustrated by the dismissal that he apparently told the umpire ‘Fancy being done by a bloody Chinaman�on his way back to the pavilion. And thus, Chinaman bowling was born as wrist spin deliveries by left-arm bowlers and has come to be known as Chinaman ever since.

A few notable Chinaman bowlers that have been seen using this bowling technique in cricket include Brad Hogg, Paul Adams, Garfield Sobers, and Kuldeep Yadav. All of these players have uncommon bowling actions and were difficult to read for batters, thereby continuing the tradition that was set by the first-ever Chinaman bowler. 

Photo credit: Alamy

After securing an impressive 1-0 win in the three-match unofficial Test series, India A will host New Zealand A in a three-match unofficial ODI series starting on Thursday, September 22.

India’s wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson has been appointed the captain of the 16-man ODI squad. The Kerala-born cricketer earlier failed to make the cut for India’s senior squad for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022 scheduled to be held in Australia in October-November. 

India internationals Prithvi Shaw and Ruturaj Gaikwad are some of the big names included in the batting department. Meanwhile, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik and Kuldeep Yadav are added to bolster the bowling attack.

India’s 2022 U-19 World Cup star Raj Angad Bawa has received his maiden India-A call-up following his impressive showing in the marquee youth tournament. Raj Angad Bawa amassed 252 runs and claimed nine wickets in five matches in the recent U-19 World Cup.

Meanwhile, New Zealand A will be led by Tom Bruce. The visitors will look to bounce back after suffering a 0-1 defeat in the three-match unofficial Test series against the Priyank Panchal-led hosts.

All eyes will once again be on New Zealand’s Joe Carter, who was the leading run-scorer in the unofficial Test series. Carter amassed 347 runs in three matches at an average of 69.40. New Zealand international Rachin Ravindra has been the wrecker-in-chief for the Kiwis, picking seven wickets in three matches.

The three-match unofficial ODI series will be played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

India A vs New Zealand A 2022 ODI squads

India A: Sanju Samson (captain/wicket-keeper), KS Bharat (wicket-keeper), Prithvi Shaw, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rahul Tripathi, Rajat Patidar, Kuldeep Yadav, Shabhaz Ahmed, Rahul Chahar, Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Sen, Shardul Thakur, Umran Malik, Navdeep Saini, Raj Angad Bawa

New Zealand A: Tom Bruce (captain), Robbie O’Donnell, Joe Carter, Chad Bowes, Mark Chapman, Jacob Duffy, Dane Cleaver (wicket-keeper), Matt Fisher, Cameron Fletcher (wicket-keeper), Ben Lister, Michael Rippon, Rachin Ravindra, Sean Solia, Joe Walker, Logan van Beek

India A vs New Zealand A 2022 schedule and live match times

All times are in India Standard Time (IST)

Day and Date	Match	Time (IST)	Venue
Thursday, September 22	India A vs New Zealand, 1st unofficial ODI	10:00 AM IST	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Sunday, September 25	India A vs New Zealand, 2nd unofficial ODI	10:00 AM IST	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Tuesday, September 27	India A vs New Zealand, 2nd unofficial ODI	10:00 AM IST	MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Where to watch India A vs New Zealand 2022 ODI series live in India?  

The India A vs New Zealand A 2022 unofficial ODI series will be telecast live on Star Sports Network’s TV channels in India.

Live streaming of the India A vs New Zealand A 2022 unofficial ODI series will be available on Disney+ Hotstar app and website. 

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Featured photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

Jasprit Bumrah’s 6/19 against England at the Oval is the best bowling figures in ODI by an Indian in England.

With India opting to bowl first, Bumrah made the best of the pitch conditions available as he dismissed Jason Roy, Joe Root and Liam Livingstone for ducks in his 7.2 overs. His other victims included Jonny Bairstow (7), David Willey (21) and Brydon Carse (15).

Bumrah’s haul of 6/19 is the fourth-best ODI figures in England, after Waqar Younis (7/36, 2001), Winston Davis (7/51, 1983) and Gary Gilmour (6/14, 1975)

Overall, it stands as the third-best bowling figures in ODI by an Indian bowler.

Stuart Binny owns the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODI cricket, having scalped six wickets for just four runs against Bangladesh in 2014. With India posting 105 in 25.3 overs, Binny grabbed six wickets in just 28 deliveries in a rain-marred fixture at Mirpur.

Anil Kumble’s 6/12 against West Indies in 1993 is the best bowling figures in ODI by an Indian spinner. The legendary spinner registered an economy rate of 1.94 in his spell of 6.1 overs as he led India to win the C.A.B. Jubilee Tournament that featured South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe besides finalists India and the West Indies.

So far, 10 Indians have picked up six wickets in an innings on 11 occasions. Ashish Nehra is the only one to do it twice (6/23 vs England in 2003 and 6/59 vs Sri Lanka in 2005). Kumble was the first Indian to pick up a six-fer in 1993 while Ajit Agarkar was the first Indian pacer to do so in 2004 (6/42 vs Australia).

Bumrah’s 6/19 is the best ODI figures by an Indian against England since Ashish Nehra’s 6/23 at the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

With England chasing a 251-run target set by Sourav Ganguly’s India, Nehra grabbed the important wickets of Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain and Paul Collingwood to become just the third Indian bowler after Jawagal Srinath (5/41) and Harbhajan Singh (5/43) to take five or more wickets in an ODI match against England.

Kuldeep Yadav matched Ashish Nehra and Sreesanth’s haul of six wickets against England with his return of 6/25 in the 2018 ODI at Nottingham.

Kuldeep, who was playing his first 50-overs match on English soil, came in to bowl with England at 71 for 0 in 10 overs. In his first two overs, the spinner reduced the hosts to 82/3 as he grabbed the prized scalps of Jason Roy (10.2 overs) Joe Root (12.1 overs) and Jonny Bairstow (12.5 overs).

After going wicketless in his next five overs, Kuldeep Yadav would bag the wicket of Jos Buttler in his eighth over and his fifth and sixth wicket in the final over of his spell.

Best bowling figures in ODIs by an Indian

Bowler	Bowling Figures	Opponent	Venue	Year
Stuart BinnyÂ	6/4	Bangladesh	Mirpur	2014
Anil Kumble	6/12	West IndiesÂ	Kolkata	1993
Jasprit Bumrah	6/19	England	London	2022
Ashish Nehra	6/23	England	Durban	2003
Kuldeep Yadav	6/25	England	Nottingham	2018

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / IAN KINGTON

The past few years have witnessed the rise of several promising young Indian spinners. However, one spinner who has seen his national team prospects diminish during the same time frame is 26-year-old left-arm Chinaman, Kuldeep Yadav.

Lest we forget that this is the same Kuldeep who first drew attention through his hat-trick heroics in the 2014 Under-19 World Cup before bursting onto the scene in India’s 2017 Test series against Australia.

Kuldeep’s early days with the senior team saw him enjoy plenty of success and one glance at his numbers reveal that he’s capable of contributing to the cause. That said, the left-arm wrist spinner has been far from his best in the recent past and has played just one Test and two ODIs over the last six months. 

Interestingly, Kuldeep's dip in performances has coincided with former Indian skipper MS Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket. And that fact hasn’t been lost on the 26-year-old spinner who admitted that he does indeed miss having the guidance of Dhoni from behind the stumps. 

Dhoni’s influence on young Kuldeep

“Sometimes I miss that guidance because he (Mahi) has great experience,�Kuldeep told the Indian Express. “He used to guide us behind the wicket, kept screaming! We miss his experience. When Mahi bhai was there, I and Chahal were playing. Ever since Mahibhai left, Chahal and I haven’t played together. I played only a handful of games after Mahi bhai left.�/span>

The Chinaman bowler made his ODI debut in June 2017 and was fortunate to be in the company of master strategist Dhoni. The World Cup winning captain’s presence behind the stumps has aided several bowlers in the past and Kuldeep isn’t any different.

As Kuldeep mentions, his opportunities have been limited with the national team ever since Dhoni’s departure and his loss of form and confidence was never more apparent than in the recent second Chennai Test against England, where he picked up only two wickets on a turning track. 

Recent struggles with form and confidence

His lack of form also ended in the Kolkata team dropping him during the Indian T20 League this summer. The move came after a poor show in the 2020 edition, where Kuldeep managed only one wicket in five games at an average of 92.00. 

At the moment, Kuldeep appears to be struggling for form as well as confidence and the only way to get back to his best isn’t by bowling in the nets, but by playing matches too at a competitive level.

Playing consistently at that level though is proving to be difficult for Kuldeep. Not only has he struggled for gametime in the Indian T20 League, Kuldeep isn’t a part of India’s touring party for the World Test Championship (WTC) or the Test series against England.

In his present predicament, playing consistently is the bare minimum and perhaps a move away from the Kolkata Team in the Indian T20 League can help him in that regard.

Moving to Chennai could revive his career

And what better place to go than Team Chennai which has proved to be a haven for India’s spinners. The likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja plied their trade for most of their careers with the three-time Indian T20 League winners. Jadeja even played his way back into the national team after being dropped in 2017 courtesy strong performances for the franchise.

A reunion with Dhoni at Team Chennai is another prospect that Kuldeep will be relishing. Furthermore, the south-India based franchise also has a history of investing in supposedly spent forces. 

The likes of Harbhajan Singh and Karn Sharma in the past can attest for the same. Not surprisingly, given Chennai’s rich spin tradition and culture, they too delivered. Back in 2020, Sharma also mentioned how a relaxed atmosphere in the Chennai dressing room makes life easy for the players. 

We even witnessed how Australian spinner Adam Zampa discovered himself with Dhoni behind the stamps. Only after his success in the 2016 and 2017 edition of the Indian T20 league did the leggie become a permanent fixture in the Australian limited-overs setup. 

Then there’s 42-year-old Imran Tahir, who has been enjoying his time in yellow. The South African leggie might not be featuring in every game for Chennai, but has risen to the occasion whenever called upon. 

Chennai also got the best out of England’s Moeen Ali with the ball during the now postponed Indian T20 league. The off-spinner who once struggled with Bangalore in the past has suddenly become a wicket-taking option for Chennai. 

Given Chennai and Dhoni’s propensity to work well with spinners, and turn them into match-winners, Kuldeep could find the key to unlocking his mojo again with a move down south. 

While a trade in the coming months looks unlikely, the spinner can look forward to getting absorbed by the franchise ahead of the 2022 edition. If the move manifests, Kuldeep will not only benefit from Chennai’s culture of harnessing spinners but more importantly, he will be blessed to once again operate under the watchful eyes of Dhoni.

Kuldeep is only 26, with time on his side. Many have benefited in the recent past from a stint with Dhoni and Chennai, and Kuldeep too deserves a shot. For it will be a pity otherwise to see a talented spinner disappearing into the wilderness.

Featured photo: AFP / Dibyangshu Sarkar