Courtesy: BCCI
There's always a great sight to see sixes being hit and big team totals being constructed. But something quite fascinating in the game is also seeing fast bowlers and spinners rule with a sense of elan.
And it becomes an even more cherished sight when bowlers claim prized five-wicket-hauls against some of the most noted teams out there such as the big three, England, South Africa, and Australia.
Having said that, which Indian bowlers - whether spinners or fast bowlers - have taken most five-wicket hauls against the dominant power of Test cricket: England? Let us find out.
Indian Test bowlers with most 5-wicket hauls vs England
Balwant Chandrasekhar - 8 five-wicket hauls
It was the time where the bowlers and the batters were often engaged in a close tussle for supremacy. The kind of time where cricket hadn't yet become such a one-sided sport often leaning towards the batting side, which is so often the case today. But back then legends and hugely underrated ones like Balwant Chandrasekhar ruled the scene. And the great spinner's spells against the English were imperious.
He took no fewer than eight fifers against England in Test cricket from which 8 for 114 as a spell stood out.
On the whole, the man from southern India finished his test career with not less than 95 Test wickets against England. What a feat, right?
Anil Kumble - 5 five-wicket hauls
A great of the game with impeccable spin skills and a great value system that saw him play like a focused and integral athlete committed at upholding the sport.
That was "Jumbo" Anil Kumble, who captured no fewer than 92 Test wickets versus England bowling back in the day to some of their best ever, including Mike Atherton, Nasser Hussain, and the likes.
The heroic leg spinner, the man with most wickets as a spinner for India in test match cricket claimed not less than a bag of wickets against the mighty English side and his was a career that went a long way.
Kapil Dev - 4 five-wicket hauls
On the whole, the great Kapil Dev, an icon not just for Indian cricket but even of world cricket, took 434 Test match wickets, still the fast bowler from India with the most number of wickets as on date in the longest format.
But of these 434 wickets, 85 came against the English side from just 27 Test matches. He took four fifers and a best bowling spell of 6 for 91.
Ishant Sharma - 4 five-wicket hauls
Back in the day, during times of his peak fitness, Delhi-born Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma was a tough cookie, especially where it comes to his Test fast bowling prowess.
He took no fewer than four five-wicket hauls against England in Test match cricket, with his best bowling figures against the famed opponents being 7 for 74.
On the whole, the daring tall fast bowler took 67 wickets against England and combatted some of the best names in the game, including Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen.
