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Published Nov 21, 2024, 11:14 am IST
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) brings together the best players from Australia and India for a highly anticipated Test series. Several players have made their mark on the rivalry's history with match-winning performances over the years.
Regarding bowling, various notable bowlers from India and Australia have turned the contest around throughout the years in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Here's a list of the top five memorable bowling displays by the Indian roster in the down under, through the timelines of this highly acclaimed bilateral red-ball series.
Kapil Dev: 8/106 in Adelaide 1985-86
Kapil Dev's 8/106 in the 1985 Adelaide Test is still the finest Test bowling performance by an Indian bowler in Australia. Kapil bowled with remarkable control against a rigid Australian batting order, limiting them to just 381 runs in the first innings. He was known for his accurate seam movement and swing bowling, which made Australian hitters nervous.
The furious fast bowler removed practically every Australian batter and stood out for a solitary performance that placed India in a position to win the Test. Despite India taking the lead with a commanding 520/10 as a response, the match finished in a tie, with Kapil named the man of the match.
Anil Kumble: 8/141 in Sydney 2003-04
Anil Kumble was famed for his never-say-die mentality, and his 8/141 spell in Sydney in 2004 demonstrates his perseverance. Bowling on a flat Sydney field, Australia had already scored a staggering 474 in response to India's 705. Kumble's spell came on a track that gave nothing to the bowlers, but he still made an impression.
He broke vital partnerships and continued to chip away at Australia's batting order. While the game ended in a tie, Kumble's eight wickets were the most important in preventing Australia from running away with it. His performance demonstrated his ability to bear the brunt of India's bowling assault, particularly in difficult international circumstances.
Ajit Agarkar: 6/41 in Adelaide 2003-04
Ajit Agarkar recorded a career-best performance of 6 for 41 in the 2003 Adelaide Test, which proved crucial in India's memorable four-wicket victory. His wickets included Ricky Ponting, whose departure for a duck was critical in shattering the opposition's resistance.
Agarkar's famous session is sometimes overlooked by Rahul Dravid's superb 233 in the same game, but it was his bowling that secured India's rare overseas victory.
Also Read: Top 5 Indian Batting Innings from the BGT played in Australia
Mohammed Siraj: 5/73 in Brisbane 2020-21
Mohammed Siraj's 5/73 in Australia's second innings was his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket, coming in only his third outing. Siraj, despite having little experience, led an injury-depleted Indian bowling attack that lacked seasoned bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Ravichandran Ashwin and up to the task by bowling with control and aggressiveness.
Siraj's success came despite personal sadness, as he had lost his father during the tour but elected to remain in Australia to serve on national service. Siraj's accomplishment reflected India's perseverance and depth. Siraj's victory exemplified India's squad's tenacity and depth throughout the victorious 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy campaign.
Jasprit Bumrah: 6/33 in Melbourne 2018-19
In 2018, Jasprit Bumrah led India to their first-ever victory in a Boxing Day Test Down Under. The right-arm seamer took 6/33 as Australia were bowled out for 151 in response to India's 443/7 declaration. This spell contained everything. There were seamed-up deliveries, bouncers, yorkers, and Shaun Marsh's famed slow yorker.
This display of "complete fast bowling" by the world-class seamer who deserved to seal the first rank of the bowlers' roster at that time. These are still the best Test figures by an Indian at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Bumrah also took three wickets in the 2nd innings, with Australia failing to chase 399.
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Border-Gavaskar Trophyanil kumbleJasprit BumrahMohammed SirajAjit Agarkarkapil dev