South Africa pacers with best innings figures in India (Tests)
What's the story
Left-arm pacer Marco Jansen bolstered South Africa with a historic spell against India in the 2nd Test in Guwahati. He took six wickets as the Proteas bowled India out for 201 on Day 3. The visitors earlier racked up a mammoth 489. According to Cricbuzz, Jansen now has the third-best innings figures for a South African pacer in Tests in India.
#1
Lance Klusener: 8/64 in Kolkata, 1996
In 1996, former all-rounder Lance Klusener made his Test debut memorable by taking a record eight-wicket haul. The right-arm medium-pacer stood out with 8/64 across 21.3 overs as India failed to chase down 467 at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The hosts were bowled out for 137. Notably, Klusener still holds the best innings figures for a South African on Test debut.
#2
Dale Steyn: 7/51, Nagpur, 2010
In 2010, Dale Steyn became the first SA pacer to take a match haul of 10 wickets on Indian soil, a record that stays intact. Steyn took a record 7/51 across 16.4 overs against India (first innings) in Nagpur, with the hosts losing by an innings. He is the only other Proteas pacer to have taken seven-plus wickets in a Test innings in India.
#3
Marco Jansen: 6/48, Guwahati, 2025
As mentioned, Jansen is the latest entrant on this elite list. He is the only other South African pacer with a Test six-fer in India. According to Cricbuzz, Jansen became the third left-arm pacer to record a Test fifer in India since 1988. He joined Zaheer Khan (thrice) and Mitchell Johnson (Mohali, 2010) on this elite list.