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Simon Harmer wrecks India! Best Test figures by South African spinners in India

Aakash Saini

Best figures in India by South Africa spinners [Source: @Titans_Cricket, @WicketWatcher_, @FemmyFranz/x]Best figures in India by South Africa spinners [Source: @Titans_Cricket, @WicketWatcher_, @FemmyFranz/x]

Vintage spinner Simon Harmer tilted the tide back in South Africa’s favour by picking up a surprise four-wicket haul late in the Indian innings on Day 2 of the first Test of the series at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens. The spell also marked his magnum opus figures against India after two below-par Test trips to the country.

Celebrating Simon Harmer’s fightback, here is a look at five of the best bowling figures ever recorded by South Africa spinners on Indian soil.

5. Simon Harmer 4-30, Kolkata, 2025*

South Africa’s first-class veteran Simon Harmer steamrolled hosts India in the first innings of the series-opening first Test of the two-match series in November 2025 with a street-smart four-wicket haul, one which limited the hosts’ lead to just 30 runs at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The cricketer deceived Washington Sundar with an off-break before trapping Dhruv Jurel and Ravindra Jadeja within a single spell later in the innings.

Simon Harmer (4-30) also dismissed Axar Patel as South Africa bowled out India for just 189 by Day 2 of the Kolkata Test.

4. Dean Elgar 4-22, Mohali, 2015

In a bowling attack featuring the likes of Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Vernon Philander and Imran Tahir, it was specialist batter Dean Elgar who came up clutch with the ball for South Africa in the first Test of their four-match tour of India in late-2015. The opening batter picked up four wickets at an expense of just 22 runs through his part-time left-arm spin, which included the prized scalps of Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane and Wriddhiman Saha.

Elgar’s cunning spell helped South Africa envelope the entire Indian innings for just 201 on Day 1 at the PCA Stadium in Mohali.

3. Nicky Boje 5-83, Bengaluru, 2000

South Africa’s spin icon Nicky Boje picked up five Indian wickets at an expense of just 83 runs in the second innings of the series-deciding second Test from March 2000 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The cricketer demolished India’s famed top-order, which comprised of the likes of Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer and Sourav Ganguly, before deceiving rival spinners Anil Kumble and Murali Kartik.

He also picked up two wickets in the first innings, and scored a vital 85 as a night watchman at number three to cap a remarkable all-round performance as South Africa won the match by an innings and 71 runs to secure the series 2-0.

2. Imran Tahir 5-38, Nagpur, 2015

Senior South African spinner Imran Tahir recorded a sensational five-wicket haul against India in the third Test match at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur back in November 2015. The cricketer bowled just 11.3 overs in the second Indian innings of the match to fold up the visitors for just 173. Imran Tahir scalped the huge wickets of vintage opener Shikhar Dhawan, then Indian captain Virat Kohli, prolific middle-order batter Ajinkya Rahane and wicketkeeper-batter Washington Sundar to claim figures of 5-38.

Unfortunately for Imran Tahir, South Africa lost the match by 124 runs to go 0-2 down in the four-match series.

1. Paul Adams 6-55, Kanpur, 1996

Unorthodox left-arm spinner Paul Adam picked up figures of 6-55 in his 19.1 overs against India during South Africa’s three-match tour back in late 1996. In the first innings of the third Test of the series at the Green Park in Kanpur, Adams trapped Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Mohammad Azharuddin, Sunil Joshi and a couple of tailenders to fold up India for just 237.

While the cricketer picked up two more Indian wickets in the second innings to claim eight for the match, South Africa lost the series-decider by 280 runs.