Ranking the 5 best spells by an Indian bowler in WTC 2023-25 cycle ft. Jasprit Bumrah

India's campaign in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle ended with a 3-1 Border Gavaskar Trophy defeat to Australia. While India had a solid chance of qualifying for the final until mid-2024, the series losses against New Zealand and Australia saw them exit the tournament.

The 2023-25 WTC cycle was not great for the Indian batters. Yashasvi Jaiswal was the breakout star for India in this cycle, but the other established stars could not produce top-quality performances consistently.

On the other side, the bowlers did a phenomenal job for India in a majority of the WTC matches. Now that India's campaign has ended, here's a look back at the top five spells from Indian bowlers in the tournament.

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#5 Ravichandran Ashwin - 5/51 vs England, Ranchi

India hosted England for a five-match Test series in early 2024. England won the first Test in Hyderabad, but the Indian team bounced back and eventually won the series 4-1.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the architect of India's win in the fourth Test played in Ranchi. India conceded a 46-run first-innings lead to England and needed to bowl them out cheaply in the second innings.

Under pressure, Ashwin stepped up and scalped five wickets. He opened the bowling for the team and dismissed Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Ben Foakes and James Anderson in his spell of 15.5 overs. England's batters seemed to have no answers to Ashwin's off-spin as the visitors only managed 145 in their second innings. India won by five wickets eventually.

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#4 Washington Sundar - 7/59 vs New Zealand, Pune

Off-spinner Washington Sundar achieved the best figures by an Indian bowler in Tests played in 2024. The off-spinner returned with dream figures of 7/59 in his first Test appearance for India after almost four years.

Playing at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Sundar trapped the New Zealand batters in his spin web, scalping seven wickets. Ashwin took the first three wickets of the visitors' innings, but then Sundar dismissed Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee and Ajaz Patel to bowl out the Kiwis.

Sundar dismissed five batters bowled showing that the visitors had no idea how to play him. Notably, it was Sundar's first seven-wicket haul in first-class cricket as well.

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#3 Mohammed Siraj - 6/15 vs South Africa, Cape Town

India started 2024 with an away Test match against South Africa in Cape Town. The Indian team were down 0-1 but won the Cape Town Test to level the series.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj starred for India. In just nine overs, he bagged six wickets in the first innings, conceding 15 runs. His six victims were Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreyne and Marco Jansen.

Siraj's pace left the South African batters clueless as the home team were bundled out for just 55 in the first innings. India won the match by seven wickets and Siraj deservedly won the Player of the Match award.

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#2 Jasprit Bumrah - 5/30 vs Australia, Perth

India became the first team to defeat Australia in a Test match at the Optus Stadium, thanks to Jasprit Bumrah. The pace bowler led India from the front as captain, scalping a brilliant five-wicket haul in Perth.

India had only managed 150 in their first innings, but Bumrah's five-wicket haul ensured Australia got all out for just 104. Bumrah dismissed Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Alex Carey and Pat Cummins to turn the game in India's favor. His accuracy and pace helped him produce one of the most lethal spells in WTC history.

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#1 Jasprit Bumrah - 6/45 vs England, Vizag

The number one spot on this WTC countdown belongs to Jasprit Bumrah as well. The ace Indian pacer helped India bounce back in the series against England after the defeat in Hyderabad.

Vizag hosted the second Test, where Yashasvi Jaiswal's double hundred powered India to 396 in the first innings. In response, England started well with their Bazball approach and raced to 114/1 by the 23rd over.

Axar Patel broke the partnership between Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope by dismissing the former, and then Bumrah took care of business.

Bumrah sent Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Tom Hartley and James Anderson back to the dressing room in his spell of 15.5 overs. England played aggressively, but Bumrah still managed five maiden overs. The yorkers to dismiss Pope and Stokes were the highlights of his spell.