Simon Harmer played in the 2015 tour of India and took 10 wickets from two matches. The Proteas went on to lose the series, but Harmer impressed. 10 years later, he got his 2nd opportunity to tour India and ended up picking the Player of the Series award South Africa won the Test series 2-0 and inflicted a whitewash upon the hosts – their 2nd in a year’s span.
Harmer was brilliant throughout the series. The 36-year-old off-spinner who owns over 1000 First-Class wickets, demolished Team India in both Tests held at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati. He picked 8 wickets in Kolkata as the Proteas won the match by 30 runs. He clocked 4/30 and 4/21 to make a significant difference.
And next up in Guwahati, he finished with 9 wickets. After taking 3/64 in the 2nd innings, he floored India with 6/37 in the 4th innings. He finished the series with 17 wickets.
Here we present the records Harmer has made in India.
Most wickets by a Proteas bowler in a Test series in India
Harmer’s 17 wickets at 8.94 in the 2025 Test series in India is now the most by a South African bowler. He bettered the record of pacer Dale Steyn, who picked 15 wickets in 2008.
Most wickets by a South African bowler against India in India
With 10 and 17 wickets from 4 Test matches on Indian soil, Harmer now leads the chart among South Africans. The spin sensation broke Steyn’s record. Steyn had managed 26 wickets versus India in India.
2nd and third-best match figures; 3rd-best innings figures
Harmer’s match figures of 9/101 in the Guwahati Test are the second best for South Africa in India. Steyn’s 10/108 in Nagpur, 2010, remains the best. Meanwhile, Harmer’s 8/51 in the Eden Gardens Test ranks third in this list.
On the other hand, his 6/37 in the 4th innings is overall the 3rd-best figures (innings) by a Proteas bowler in India. Lance Klusener is number one with figures worth 8/64 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, 1996. Steyn is next with 7/51 in 16.4 overs in Nagpur, 2010.
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