India can be a volatile place for all-around visitors, depending on the type. Spin bowling all-rounders are always valued by a team as they can exploit the conditions and also provide depth in batting. When it comes to speed bowling all-rounders, only the best of the best are able to hit the usual high-spin playing XI and make the most of conditions that are inherently not in their favor.
However, all-round visitors of all types have enjoyed some success in India, often frustrating the hosts. Their batting contribution often exceeds the total, while their work in helping the frontline bowlers is always welcome and appreciated.
From using the dry surfaces and rough patches to bringing the reverse swing into play, there is always room for an all-rounder to flourish with the ball in India.
On that note, let’s take a look at the 5 greatest performances by a visiting all-rounder in an India Test.
#1 Marco Jansen (India v South Africa; 2nd Test, 2025, Guwahati, 93; 6-48 and 1-23)
The South Africa all-rounder gave a rare masterclass as a seam bowler in subcontinent conditions after taking seven wickets in the second Test against India. The big pacer took advantage of a red dirt wicket to leave the Indian batters with his very focused bouncers.
Jansen used the conditions to such good effect that he was able to take six wickets in the first innings, tricking the batters into playing poor flase shots and setting up the game well for the spinners to smash in the latter innings.
Apart from his exploits with the ball, Jansen played a huge role in South Africa by setting a mammoth total of 489 first innings. The right-handed batter frustrated the Indian bowlers as he batted with the lower order, but unfortunately missed out on a well-deserved hundred by seven runs.
#2 Ian Botham (India v England; 1st Test, 1980, Mumbai; 114; 6-58 and 7-48)
The legendary English all-rounder produced one of the most dominant performances by a visiting player in the famous 10-wicket win in the 1980 Test at the Wankhede Stadium.
Dismissing Sunil Gavaskar and Kapil Dev in the first innings, he ran through the Indian batting unit to reduce them to 242. In response, England were struggling at 58-5, but Ian Botham brought the visitors back into the contest with a superb 114 to help the team secure a precious 54-run lead.
He then picked up seven wickets in the second innings, taking his tally to 13 for the contest, to bundle India out for just 149 runs.
#3 Nicky Boje (India v South Africa, 2nd Test, 2000, Bengaluru, 82; 2-10 and 5-83)
Before Marco Jansen’s exploits against India in Guwahati, it was South African spinner Nicky Boje who frustrated the Men in Blue with his all-round performance. During the Proteas’ second Test tour of India in 2000, Boje picked up two wickets in the first innings where the hosts were bundled out for just 158 after electing to bat first.
However, Boje’s heroics only began when South Africa came into play. After coming in as night watchman at the end of the first day following the dismissal of Herschelle Gibbs, the left-arm spinner put on a show with the bat at No.3. He scored 85 runs from 198 deliveries, making 161 runs with Gary Kirsten to lay the foundation for South Africa’s total of 479 runs.
In the second innings, he dismissed the Indian top three, eventually finishing with figures of 5-83 after bowling 38 overs.
#4 John Bracewell (India v New Zealand; 2nd Test, 1988, Mumbai, 52 & 32; 2-81 & 6-51)
Uncle of New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell, Doug Bracewell was also an all-rounder like his nephew. During the Blackcaps’ tour of India in 1988, they suffered a 172-run defeat in the first match of the series in Bengaluru, where Bracewell scored only three runs and finished wicketless.
He made amends in the second Test, starring in the show by top-scoring with a crucial first innings fifty as he batted at No. 9 to take the total to 236.
Bracewell dismissed the middle-order duo of skipper Dilip Vengsarkar and Mohammad Azharuddin and then also scored a crucial 32 in the second innings. Defending a target of 282 in the final innings, Bracewell ran through the Indian unit to pick up six wickets and bowl out India for just 145.
#5 Carl Hooper (India v West Indies; 2nd Test, 194, Nagpur, 81 and 67; 5-116 and 2-62)
The former West Indies all-rounder had a memorable outing during the Test series against India in the subcontinent almost 21 years ago. Hooper dismissed the Indian top three and picked up two more wickets on a flat surface as they accumulated 546-9 in the first innings.
Coming in to bat at 155-4 after the departure of Brian Lara, Hooper also chipped in with a valuable 81, making 133 runs for the fifth wicket with Jimmy Adams.
He picked up a few wickets in the second innings, before adding another fifty as the contest ended in a dull draw.
Edited by Gokul Nair
