South Africa pulled off a stunning 30-run victory over India in the first Test of their two-match series at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Proteas, who had not won a Test in India since 2010, outsmarted the hosts on a challenging pitch that favored spinners, wrapping up the match inside three days.
Winning the toss, South Africa opted to bat first but could only muster 159 runs before being bowled out in 55 overs. Off-spinner Simon Harmer was the standout performer for the Proteas, claiming impressive figures of 4-30 from 15.2 overs. In reply, India were bowled out for 93 in 35 overs after South Africa set them a target of 124, with Harmer once again wreaking havoc with the ball, finishing with figures of 4-21 in 14 overs.
Harmer’s exceptional bowling display earned him the Player of the Match award. Over the past decade, several visiting spinners have troubled India in Test matches on home soil. Here, we take a look at the top five visiting spinners with the most wickets against India in Tests since 2015.
### 5. Tom Hartley (22 wickets)
Making his Test debut during the 2024 series in India, England’s left-arm spinner Tom Hartley claimed 22 wickets in five matches at an average of 36.13, including one five-wicket haul. Hartley’s standout performance came in Hyderabad, where he took figures of 7-62 in the second innings to help England secure a 28-run victory.
### 4. Adil Rashid (23 wickets)
Experienced leg-spinner Adil Rashid featured in five Test matches during England’s 2016 tour of India, picking up 23 wickets at an average of 37.43. Rashid’s notable performances included a six-wicket haul in the second Test in Visakhapatnam and a four-wicket haul in the Mohali Test.
### 3. Mitchell Santner (23 wickets)
New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner has played four Tests in India, claiming 23 wickets at an average of 29.60. His standout performance came in the Pune Test in October 2024, where he took match figures of 13-157 to help New Zealand beat India by 113 runs.
### 2. Ajaz Patel (32 wickets)
Another New Zealand spinner, Ajaz Patel, ranks second on the list with 32 wickets in five Test matches in India at an average of 22.87. Ajaz famously took all 10 wickets in an innings in Mumbai in December 2021 and played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s 3-0 series win in India in 2024.
### 1. Nathan Lyon (41 wickets)
Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon leads the chart with 41 wickets in eight Test matches in India at an average of 23.70. Lyon’s standout performances include an 8-50 haul in Bengaluru and an 11-wicket match haul in Indore, where Australia defeated India by nine wickets.
These visiting spinners have left a mark with their performances against India in Test matches since 2015, showcasing their skill and ability to succeed in challenging conditions.
