Best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against WI in Tests

With the Indian team winning the first Test against the West Indies and getting off to the perfect start to the multi-format series, there were a plethora of sensational performances across the board from both the batters and the bowlers. From Ashwin’s seven-for in the second innings to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant century, team India were simply on fire in the first Test.

Over the years, there have been many Indian players who have put forth excellent performances when playing against the West Indies, especially the bowlers. Continuing on the same, let us have a look at the top three best bowling figures in an innings for an Indian bowler against West Indies.

3) 9/102 – Subhash Gupte at Kanpur in 1958

Subhash Gupte lit the stage on fire back in December 1958 when India took on the West Indies in the second Test of the series. Batting first, the West Indies were bundled out for 222 runs and it was thanks to Gupte who put in a spell for the ages. Taking nine wickets in the first innings, he brought the Windies’ batting lineup to their knees. Bowling 34.3 overs in the first innings, Gupte took nine wickets and conceded 102 runs. However, it proved to be in vain as the West Indies eventually won the match by 203 runs.

2) 9/83 – Kapil Dev at Ahmedabad in 1983

Legendary former Indian skipper Kapil Dev makes his way into the list as well as he wreaked havoc against the West Indies in the third Test of the series back in November 1983. As Windies came out to bat with a 40-run lead in the second innings of the third Test, Kapil Dev put forth an exceptional performance. Bowling 30.3 overs, he took a whopping nine wickets and conceded just 83 runs. His spell helped the Indian team limit the Windies to a reasonable total. However, it did not prove to be enough as India were bundled out for just 103 runs in the second innings and lost the game by 138 runs.

1) 8/61 -Narendra Hirwani at Chennai in 1988

Arguably the greatest spell in an innings by an Indian bowler against the West Indies came back in January 1988 when Narendra Hirwani showcased the performance of his life. As West Indies aimed to chase down a target of 416 runs in the second innings after a hard-fought battle between both sides, it was the spell of Hirwani that helped India register a win. Bowling 15.2 overs, he took eight wickets and conceded just 61 runs in the process. His spell helped the Indian team win the game by a mammoth 255 runs.