Indian Cricket has witnessed some of the finest and legendary spinners who have showcased tremendous consistency in challenging English conditions as far as their wicket-taking abilities are concerned. These spinners have showcased the required temperament to sustain in test conditions through their solid temperament and their ability to adjust. In this piece, we discuss three Indian spinners whose variety and skills often challenged the English batters.

The spinners mentioned in the list possessed the ability to change the length depending on the wickets they played and the playing conditions, as the conditions in England vary depending on different venues. The spinners about whom we are about to discuss in this article possessed different skill sets, yet they showcased efficiency and accuracy. These spinners were match winners on their day. Let's discuss them in detail:

1.Anil Kumble (36 Wickets in 10 Tests)-

"Jumbo", as he was fondly called during his playing days, showcased tremendous accuracy with his length and his ability to take crucial wickets. The former India skipper wasn't a big turner of the ball, but showcased tremendous consistency with his wicket-taking abilities in England. Kumble's bounce was always difficult to judge.

 Kumble claimed 36 wickets in 10 tests he played in England with best bowling figures of 66/4 in an innings and 7/159 in a match. His faster ones were difficult to read, while his googlies often put the English batters in two minds. Kumble had the knack of breaking partnerships with his clever leg breaks.

2.Bhagwath Chandrashekhar (31 Wickets in 9 Tests)-

The former leg break bowler is amongst the legendary figures in Indian cricket. Chandrashekhar's accuracy and his ability to land the ball in the right areas were simply brilliant. He claimed 31 wickets in 9 test matches in England against England with best bowling figures of 6/38 in an innings and 8/114 in a match.

Chandrashekhar used the popping crease cleverly, which outsmarted the batters. He bowled quicker through the air than troubled the English batters as he used his wrists to good effect. His deceptive length caused problems in overcast English conditions for the best English batters. Chandrashekhar had the knack of taking wickets during pressure situations.

 Also Read: Top 5 highest successful run chases at Lord’s

3. Bishan Singh Bedi (35 Wickets in 12 Tests)-

The late legendary off-spinner's round-arm action made it difficult for the English batters to judge the length, which made it difficult for them to play shots freely even on flat batting wickets. He possessed a limited run-up, but his flight and turn were his strengths that enabled him to claim crucial wickets in tough English conditions.

He claimed 35 wickets in 12 tests in England with best bowling figures of 6/226 in an innings and 6/111 in a match. Bedi's biggest strength was his ability to take big wickets that changed the outcome of a game. Bedi's accuracy in flighting the ball and his variety made him a consistent performer in English conditions.

Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, is once again leading India’s bowling attack in the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford. On Day 3, he got his first wicket by dismissing Jamie Smith, who was looking dangerous. Smith edged the ball to keeper Dhruv Jurel, who took a clean catch.

With that wicket, Bumrah created history. He is now the first Indian bowler to take 50 Test wickets in England against the home team. This is just his 1th Test in England, making the achievement even more special.

Bumrah now has his eyes on Ishant Sharma’s record of 51 Test wickets in England. If he takes two more wickets in this match, he will go past Ishant and become India’s most successful Test bowler on English soil. That’s not all. Bumrah could also become the top Asian bowler in England. Right now, that record is held by Pakistan legend Wasim Akram, who took 53 wickets in England. Bumrah needs just four more wickets to beat that mark.

There’s one more big milestone waiting. If Bumrah takes another five-wicket haul in this match, he will have 12 five-wicket hauls in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia). That would break Wasim Akram’s record of 11. With two five-wicket hauls already in this series, Bumrah has a golden chance to create more history and show why he’s one of the best fast bowlers in the world today.

ALSO READ: Joe Root Breaks Don Bradman's Record, Proves He's One of the Greatest in Test History

 Most Test Wickets for India Against England (England)

In a remarkable display of courage, former India captain and coach Anil Kumble bowled with a fractured jaw during a 2002 Test match against the West Indies in Antigua. His brave effort is remembered as one of the most inspiring moments in cricket history, reflecting his determination and commitment to the team.

The unforgettable incident remains a highlight of his career, symbolizing true commitment to the game and his team. Despite the injury, he completed 14 overs and even took the wicket of Brian Lara before flying back home.

Reflecting on the moment in 2023, Kumble shared that he had told his wife, Chethana, he would soon return to Bengaluru for surgery. His decision to continue playing despite the pain left a lasting impression on fans and fellow cricketers alike.

See Also: ENG vs IND: Rishabh Pant Creates History, Becomes India's Leading Run-Scorer in WTC

Anil Kumble Talked About His Decision of Playing with Injury:

In the 2002 Antigua Test, after India declared at 513/9, the West Indies responded strongly on a flat pitch. Despite suffering a broken jaw, Anil Kumble chose to bowl, hoping to break through and help India push for victory. Although his effort was courageous, the match ended in a draw as the West Indies posted 629/9 in their first innings before declaring.

He said, “ So, when I went back to the dressing room, I saw Sachin bowling because he was the only guy in the team who could bowl and then Wavell Hinds, I think was playing I don’t remember somebody else was batting. And I thought it was my chance. I have to go and get a couple of wickets.”

He further added, “ If we can get West Indies three or four down, end of day two or three. I think if you can get them out, then maybe, we have a chance to win the game. That was the only thought. So, I told Andrew Leipus – get me out there.”

Anil Kumble had surgery on his jaw and made a quick recovery, joining the Indian team for their England tour just a month later. He played a key role in India’s victory in the triangular series final at Lord’s and was also part of the squad that drew the four-Test series against England 1-1.

Anil Kumble Recalls the Moment of Telling his Decision to his Wife:

Before ending the call, Kumble mentioned to his wife that he planned to bowl despite his injury. She assumed he was joking and didn’t take the comment seriously. In a 2023 interview with JioCinema, as reported by News18, Kumble shared this moment, highlighting her surprise at his decision to step onto the field with a fractured jaw.

He said, “ I told my wife, Chethana and I called her up. When we spoke, I said, look I know I have to come home because I just need surgery. So, she arranged for all of that in Bangalore. And as I dropped off the call, I just told her that look I’ll go and bowl, but she thought probably I was just joking. I don’t think she even took it seriously.”

With his jaw tightly bandaged, Kumble returned to bowl during the West Indies' first innings and managed to trap Brian Lara lbw for just four runs. West Indies great Sir Viv Richards later praised the act, calling it one of the most courageous moments he had witnessed on a cricket field, according to a report by ESPNcricinfo.

Anshul Kamboj is reportedly all set to make his Team India debut in the England vs India 4th Test (ENG vs IND 4th Test), starting from tomorrow (July 23, 2025), at Old Trafford, Manchester. Due to multiple injuries, Team India added Kamboj in the setup as a cover.

Two pacers of the squad, Arshdeep Singh and Akash Deep, caught injuries during training sessions, which led Shubman Gill and Co. to call up the Haryana-born all-rounder. If the media reports are to be believed, then the tall pacer is on the verge of making his debut in the format. If that happens, then the emerging cricketer will get a chance to repeat a history, which was made for the first time in 1990.

In that year, at the same venue, Old Trafford, witness another 'AK' making a Test debut. 'AK' means Anil Kumble. Legendary Anil Kumble played his career's first Test match in his iconic ground. Anshul Kamboj, another Indian cricketer with the initial 'AK,' can get his debut cap. Kumble made his debut in the Whites and made his arrival remarkable by capturing 3 wickets in the first innings.

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Kamboj gained experience in England playing for India A

The 24-year-old joined Team India after some brilliant spells in domestic cricket. The pacer took 10 wickets in an innings during a Ranji Trophy match against Kerala in 2024. He traveled to England with the India 'A' team to face the England Lions for a couple of multi-day practice matches.

The all-rounder, hailing from Karnal, made his mark during these practice matches. In three innings of the games against England Lions, he captured five wickets, and with the bat, he scored 23 runs and 51 runs not out in two innings. For India, after getting defeated at the Lord's, it is going to be a must-win contest. England, now leading the five-match series by 2-1, has only 2 matches left to decide the fate of the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar trophy. 

The former Indian captain, Anil Kumble, hasn’t mimicked his words on the on-field umpiring of Paul Reiffel, who nearly, according to the veteran, had decided that ‘anything close would be not out.’ Kumble’s comments came after a horrible decision saw Reiffel rule Joe Root not out despite the right-handed batter using his feet and moving so much to the off-stump line.

It wasn’t the first decision from the umpire that India felt disappointed with. In case of Joe Root, Mohammed Siraj was very confident of Joe Root getting dismissed on that delivery. It was almost a celebratory appeal from the Hyderabad-born, who convinced his captain, Shubman Gill, to show the ‘T’ sign. The rest was up to the TV umpire.

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The pitching was in line, the impact was in line, but the main product of ‘wickets hitting’ came as the umpire’s call. The television screen showed Siraj purely frustrated as the Indian camp, unhappily, went back to their position, but Anil Kumble wasn’t happy and expressed ‘It seems if Paul Reiffel has decided that anything close, it’s not out.’ He didn’t mince his words in the commentary box.

Anil Kumble slams Paul Reiffel for a poor umpiring decision

That looked like it would have crashed into the leg stump. That wicket could have been so important at that time for the visiting side, who, even after picking four wickets in the first session, weren’t able to break the fifth wicket stand between Root and Ben Stokes. It wasn’t as if they didn’t bowl well, but the luck seemed to be ending its friendship for the passage of play.

Siraj deserved that wicket, it was very very close. pic.twitter.com/qGL1CGMrRh

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 13, 2025

Earlier in the morning, Paul didn’t raise his finger against Ollie Pope. Siraj was again the bowler. That time the ball was a nip backer as it hit the right-handed batter on the middle and off-stump. Gill took the review and got the result in his favor.

During the evening session yesterday, it was the other on-field umpire, Sharfuddoula, who gave Akash Deep out on leg before the stumps twice in three balls against Chris Woakes before the batter kept his life in the middle thanks to the two consecutive successful reviews.  

The Indian spin bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja achieves another significant milestone in his bowling career. Dismissing England's Ollie Pope during the third Test at Lord's on day one, Jadeja goes past Zaheer Khan's tally of 610 wickets to become India's fifth-highest wicket-taker across all formats. The 37-year-old has made it to the coveted top five list of legendary Indian cricketers, such as Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, and Harbhajan Singh, to name a few. It is worth noting that Jadeja currently holds 611 wickets for India across formats. 

The Gujarat-based cricketer is now only 76 wickets away from eclipsing Kapil Dev's record of 687 wickets. Moreover, Jadeja isn't far behind Harbhajan Singh in the list, who currently holds the third spot with 711 wickets in his tally. However, the former Indian leggie Anil Kumble sits right at the top of the three with 956 wickets to his name. Jadeja regularly features for India in the ODI and Test formats, and with a handful of years left under his belt, Jadeja can aspire to come very close to Kumble's record of 956 international scalps.

See also: Jadeja is not a front-line spinner... ' - Former India coach slams team management for including Ravindra Jadeja in ENG vs IND Test XI

MOST WICKETS BY AN INDIAN IN INTERNATIONAL CRICKET:

Anil Kumble - 956
Ravichandran Ashwin - 765
Harbhajan Singh - 711
Kapil Dev - 687
Ravindra Jadeja - 611*

Jadeja enters into Top 5 - One of the Greatest ever. 💛 pic.twitter.com/Nujh8l9BF9

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 11, 2025

A quick look at Jadeja's prolific bowling record

Overall, Jadeja ranks 24th in the list of top wicket-takers globally. It is worth mentioning that the crafty spin bowling all-rounder has already left behind legendary greats like Sir Richard Hadlee, Jacques Kallis, and Allan Donald in the race. In Tests, Jadeja has accounted for 326 scalps and 15 five-wicket hauls. He recorded his best bowling figures of 10/110 against Australia, an opposition against whom he has picked up the most amount of Test wickets (93).

A total of 231 wickets have come from the ODI format, which included two five-wicket hauls. He registered his best bowling performance of 5/33 against South Africa. Moving on to the shortest format from which he has retired, Jadeja has claimed 54 wickets in 71 innings, averaging under 30. His figures of 3/15 against Scotland in the 2021 T20 World Cup remain his best T20I bowling figures to date. 

Jadeja has been an exceptional find for India in the past two decades. He is seen as someone who can bowl wicket-to-wicket to curtail the flow of runs and trouble the batters with his sharp turn and guile on helpful bowling conditions. Besides, his contribution with the bat lower down the order makes him a gem of an asset for the side. 

BCCI is yet to announce the squad for India's upcoming Test series, which is scheduled to start on June 20. As both veterans Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli retired from the format, the selection committee led by Ajit Agarkar is in search of players who can replace those two legends in the Test setup.

Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Subhman Gill, KL Rahul, or even Sai Sudharsan are some of the contenders for the opening spot where Sharma used to bat. It'll be more challenging for the board to pick someone up who can bat in the number 3 or number 4 position. Former India skipper and legend Anil Kumble has suggested a name to replace Virat.

Kumble feels Karun Nair is possibly the best fit for the number four position, where a team needs someone who can play an anchor role, especially in English conditions. Nair bought a truckload of runs in Indian domestic cricket and has experience playing for England for the country and for the county club as well. Kumble especially mentioned the batter's experience in county cricket.

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Nair gained notable experience about english conditions

The right-handed batter played 7 matches and 11 innings in the County Championship and scored a total of 487 runs with an average of 44.27 for Northamptonshire. But the most memorable innings from his bat against England came when he scored 303 runs in a Test match in Chennai, December 2016.

Kumble said in a video, "Karun (Nair) probably deserves to come back into the Indian team with the kind of domestic runs he has had. So perhaps he could be that number 4, because I feel you need a bit of experience. You need somebody, especially in England early on; you'll need somebody who's been there and done that."

Watch what Kumble said about Karun Nair

'Karun deserves a comeback and perhaps replace Kohli at No.4' @anilkumble1074 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/Sk9k1udImL

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) May 15, 2025

The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, honoring distinguished achievements in various fields, including sports. Numerous Indian cricketers will have been recognized for their remarkable achievements in the game of cricket over these years, with cricket being both the most awarded and most recognized sport in the award category due to cricket being a main part of Indian culture. As of April 2025, there are 40 cricketer recipients of the Padma Shri award, made up of 37 men and 3 women, which partly explains why there are more male cricketers on this list due to history. I hope to frame the discourse around the Padma Shri-awarded cricketers, with reasons for why these cricketers have achieved this prestigious recognition, and lastly their legacies as cricketers, with a table to list all the named recipients of the Padma Shri.

The Padma Shri has been awarded to cricketers since 1960. The first Indian cricketer to receive this award was Vijay Hazare. Cricketers are recognized not just for their competitive performances while advocating for and cultivating Indian cricket on and off the field or elevating the status of cricket in India and internationally. There is history and legacy in having led India to momentous victories and other career milestones. Cricketers have even broken world records or placed Indian cricket on the world stage in a developing cricketing nation. Interestingly, 24% of the awards in sports are awarded to cricketers, illustrating the significance of cricket in India.

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List of Cricketers Honored with Padma Shri

Below is a table of 22 explicitly named cricketers who have received the Padma Shri, based on available records up to 2025. While 40 cricketers have been honored, some names are not widely documented in public sources.

Cricketers honored with the Padma Shri embody excellence, perseverance, and national pride. Their achievements have shaped Indian cricket’s legacy, inspiring future generations to dream big and strive for greatness.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, a huge and holy event which occurs every 12 years in India, is a magnet to millions of devotees in quest of spiritual renewal. In 2025, the Mela at Prayagraj did not see just pilgrims, but a few well-known cricketers of India too, who walked the banks of the holy Sangam to experience this phenomenon.

Among the cricketers who made it to the Maha Kumbh Mela were past and present stars, some of whom tweeted and spoke in interviews about the experience, sharing how spiritually rewarding the event was.

Suresh Raina 

Mary Kom and Suresh Raina went for a dip in the Ganga at the weekend. Raina shared images from his dip on social media, whereas Mary Kom was spotted enjoying herself to the fullest at the spot. Raina went onto social media to share a small peep into his spiritual experience and termed his visit an experience to remember.

Just had an unforgettable darshan experience at Mahakumbh! Felt the divine energy & spirituality of the gathering. Blessed to be a part of this sacred event #Mahakumbh #Darshan #SpiritualExperience #DivineBlessings" pic.twitter.com/j7gClY6DWc

— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) January 25, 2025

Anil Kumble

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Anil Kumble and his wife came to Prayagraj on Tuesday and had a holy dip on Magh Purnima, a day without VIP security. They came to the holy confluence by boat, sharing the experience like common pilgrims.

Blessed 🙏🏽#MahaKumbh #Prayagraj pic.twitter.com/OFY6T3yF5F

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) February 12, 2025

R.P.Singh

former Indian cricketer and T20 World Cup-winning pacer RP Singh attended the event and lauded the government for handling everything well

#WATCH | Prayagraj, UP | On #MahaKumbhMela2025, Cricketer RP Singh says, "I have come here for the second time. The management here is great and I am very fortunate that I got the opportunity of Kumbh Snan in this time period... It is difficult to think how 50 crore people could… pic.twitter.com/olW4RkOOre

— ANI (@ANI) February 17, 2025

Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar visits the Sangam in Prayagraj during the Mahakumbh.

Sunil Gavaskar takes a holy dip at Sangam in Prayagraj during Mahakumbh. 🙏✨#Cricket #India #BCCI #SunilGavaskar pic.twitter.com/RSIe4P872L

— Sportskeeda (@Sportskeeda) February 18, 2025

Mohammad Kaif

ALSO SEE : Virat Kohli vs. Babar Azam: A Battle of Modern-Day Batting Greats

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif visited Prayagraj ahead of the Maha Kumbh festival and took a dip in the Yamuna River.

Abe isi Jamuna ji mein tairaki seekha hoon 😀 #sangam #prayagraj pic.twitter.com/yVs67yJMWb

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) December 29, 2024

Jay shah

ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with his family, arrived at Prayagraj on January 27 to attend the Maha Kumbh, a festival steeped in spirituality and tradition.

#WATCH | #MahaKumbh2025 | Saints bless the baby boy of Jay Shah - ICC chairman and son of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. pic.twitter.com/97qA7hwuOb

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025

#WATCH | Union Home Minister Amit Shah along with his family, in the presence of several saints and CM Yogi Adityanath, performs 'aarti' at Triveni Sangam during #Mahakumbh2025 in Prayagraj pic.twitter.com/K8bftnGKwg

— ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2025

Apart from Shah, his son and ICC chairman Jay Shah also visited the Maha Kumbh. Clad in saffron attire like his father, the cricket administrator sought blessings from the seers for his newborn son.

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.