Most wickets against India by spinners in Tests - Nathan Lyon eying all-time record

The Indian cricket team, alongside the other subcontinent teams like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, have produced some of the world’s best spin bowlers. Naturally, they are also far better equipped at facing spinners when compared to non-Asian sides like Australia, England and others. 

The Men in Blue have had a terrific record against spin bowlers over the years, but some opposition bowlers have managed to excel against the best in the business. 

Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan has the most wickets by spinners against India in Tests. He isn’t just the leading wicket-taker among spinners against India in Tests, but also the first spinner to take over 100 wickets in this format against them. 

Australian spinner Nathan Lyon is in contention to go past Muralitharan’s record and is nearing the three-figure mark. Overall, six spinners have picked up 50 wickets or more against India in Tests - Muttiah Muralitharan, Nathan Lyon, Lance Gibbs, Derek Underwood, Moeen Ali and Richie Benaud. 

Here’s a look at the spinners who were successful against India in the longest format. 

Most wickets by spinners against India in Tests

Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka)

Muttiah Muralitharan is Test cricket’s leading wicket-taker with 800 scalps in 133 Tests. He played 22 Test matches against India, picking up 105 wickets. He is the second-highest wicket-taker against India in Tests overall as only James Anderson is above him in that list. Muralitharan registered seven five-fers and picked up 10 wickets in a Test match against India on two occasions. 

Nathan Lyon (Australia)

Nathan Lyon is the third highest wicket-taker in Tests among Australians and second only to Shane Warne among spinners. Against India, Lyon produced some of his best performances. In his first visit to India in 2013, he picked up 15 wickets in three Tests and bettered it with 19 wickets in four Tests in 2017. His career-best figures (in an innings) of 8/50 came against India as well (Bengaluru, 2017).

Lance Gibbs (West Indies) 

Lance Gibbs is widely hailed as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time. He is the fourth highest wicket-taker in Tests for Caribbean cricketers with 309 scalps in 79 Tests and the first spinner in history to breach the 300 wickets mark in this format. He had a terrific record against the Indian side as well, picking up 63 wickets in 15 matches, which includes four five-fers. His spell of 8/38 against the Indians in March 1962 are his career best figures (in an innings).