India's bowling heroes who ruled England ODIs

• Indian bowlers have delivered legendary spells against England.
• Bumrah took 6 for 19 at The Oval, the best by an Indian in England.
• Other icons include Nehra, Amarnath, Shami and Kuldeep Yadav.

English conditions, with their swing and seam, have always been a stern test for touring sides. Yet, several Indian bowlers have risen to the challenge, producing moments of magic that are etched forever in cricket history. Here are some of those spells.

Jasprit Bumrah’s Swinging Masterclass at The Oval

Jasprit Bumrah delivered a spell for the ages against England in July 2022, cementing his status as one of the world's premier all-format bowlers. Under overcast skies at The Oval, Bumrah was simply unplayable. He finished with career-best ODI figures of 6 for 19, the best by any Indian bowler in England. The spell was a masterclass in swing and seam bowling. His opening burst of 4 for 9 in five overs effectively ended the contest before it truly began. He dismissed Jason Roy, Joe Root, and Liam Livingstone for ducks, leaving England's powerful batting lineup in tatters. Mohammed Shami provided excellent support from the other end, but the day belonged to Bumrah, whose unique action and relentless accuracy saw England skittled for just 110. India cruised to a 10-wicket victory, a demolition job orchestrated by one of modern cricket’s finest.

Ashish Nehra’s World Cup Heroics on a 'Dicky Ankle'

In a crucial 2003 World Cup match against England in Durban, Ashish Nehra produced one of the most courageous and skillful spells in Indian history. Bowling with a heavily swollen ankle, the left-arm pacer bowled ten overs on the trot to claim a stunning 6 for 23. His performance remains the best by an Indian in a World Cup match. Defending a competitive total of 250, Nehra dismantled the English middle order. He got the ball to move in the evening air, dismissing captain Nasser Hussain and Alec Stewart in consecutive deliveries before accounting for Michael Vaughan and Paul Collingwood. The image of a visibly pained Nehra soldiering on, and then famously eating a banana on the field, is an iconic one for Indian fans. It was a spell of immense heart and control that sent England crashing out and propelled India deeper into the tournament.

Mohinder Amarnath and the World Cup Final Miracle

While his figures of 3 for 12 from seven overs might seem modest, the context makes Mohinder Amarnath's spell in the 1983 World Cup final one of the most important in history. India had been bowled out for a paltry 183 against the mighty West Indies, who were chasing a third successive title. The chase seemed a formality. But after Madan Lal made crucial breakthroughs, it was Amarnath's gentle medium pace that sealed the historic victory. He broke a threatening partnership by dismissing Jeff Dujon before trapping Malcolm Marshall. The final, decisive wicket was that of Michael Holding, trapped LBW, which sparked scenes of unbelievable celebration at Lord's. Amarnath was named Man of the Match for his crucial runs and, more importantly, for his spell that completed one of cricket’s greatest-ever upsets.

Mohammed Shami’s Last-Over Hat-Trick

In the 2019 World Cup, India was in danger of a shock defeat against a spirited Afghanistan side at Southampton. Defending a modest 224, the match went down to the wire, with Afghanistan needing 16 runs from the final over. Mohammed Shami, playing his first game of the tournament, was handed the ball. After being hit for a boundary off the first ball, Shami held his nerve. He had the well-set Mohammad Nabi caught at long-on before cleaning up the last two batsmen with searing yorkers to complete a famous hat-trick. He finished with figures of 4 for 40 and became only the second Indian to take a hat-trick in a World Cup. This spell wasn't just about the wickets; it was a showcase of exceptional death-bowling under immense pressure, securing a nail-biting 11-run win for India.

Kuldeep Yadav’s Wrist-Spin Web at Nottingham

In 2018, wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav showed that it’s not just about pace in England. In the first ODI at Trent Bridge, a ground known for high scores, England got off to a flying start. They looked set for a massive total before Kuldeep was introduced into the attack. What followed was a magical spell of left-arm wrist-spin that completely bamboozled the English batsmen. He broke the opening partnership and then dismissed Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in the same over. He returned later to break another partnership, finishing with incredible figures of 6 for 25 from his 10 overs. It was the first time a left-arm wrist-spinner had taken a six-wicket haul in ODI history. Kuldeep's spell single-handedly restricted England to a chaseable score of 268, which India overhauled with ease.