All The Test Cricket Hat Tricks That Indians Have Taken

In the long history of Test cricket, there are 45 hat-tricks taken by the bowlers from 10 different countries. The first-ever hat-trick was recorded by Fred ‘The Demon’ Spofforth way back in 1879. India waited almost 70 years since their first test match in 1932 to find a bowler with a test hat-trick when Harbhajan Singh achieved it against a very strong Australian team. Since then, there are two more test hat-tricks by Indian bowlers. Here are the stories of the three test hat-tricks by Indian bowlers.

Harbhajan Singh against Australia, Kolkata 2001

Harbhajan’s hat-trick came in one of the 21st centuries most memorable test matches. The Steve Waugh led Australian squad was one of the strongest ever and came to India with 15 consecutive test wins. They recorded their 16th win in the first test at Mumbai and came to Kolkata with the record on their site. They started very strongly as the openers added 103 runs. At 193 for 1 Australia were threatening to run away with the match but Harbhajan Strike to get Matthew Hayden out. Soon Australia lost 2 more wickets and they were 236 for 4. In the 72nd over Harbhajan Singh got his name in the record books! 

He first dismissed Ricky Ponting Leg-Before Wicket. Adam Gilchrist came and was given LBW on his first delivery. Shane Warne faced the hat-trick ball and his flick was caught brilliantly by Sadgopan Ramesh at the short leg. The third umpire was called to check whether it was a bumped ball but he did not take long to give his decision in favour of the Indian and with that Harbhajan Singh made history for India by becoming the first bowler to claim a test hat-trick.

The test match had many more special moments including a majestic 281 by VVS Laxman and Indian’s victory on the end of the fifth day despite following on.

Irfan Pathan against Pakistan, Karachi 2006

It took less than five years for another Indian bowler to get a Test hat-trick. Irfan Pathan made his name thanks to his ability to swing the ball during India’s tour of Pakistan 2004. He returned to Pakistan in 2006 and in the 3rd test recorded hat-trick in a dramatic situation. It was the very first over of the match and after three dot balls on first three balls, Pathan enticed a nick from the opener Salman Butt in the fourth delivery which was safely pouched by the Indian captain Rahul Dravid. It brought the Pakistani captain Younis Khan in the crease and he was dismissed first ball leg-before-wicket. Mohammad Yousuf came out to face the final delivery of the first over and Pathan’s huge inswing found the gap between his bat and pad and crashed onto the stumps. 

With this Pathan became the first-ever bowler in world cricket to complete a hat-trick in the first over of a test match. However, this match did not end well for India. Despite making Pakistan struggle at 39/6 in the first innings, Indians let them off the hook and a strong second innings showing by the Pakistani batsmen ensured a massive 341 runs win for them.

Jasprit Bumrah against West Indies 

West Indies used to have great pace battery and had created many troubles for Indian batsmen during their tours in the grounds like Sabina Park and Kensington Oval during the 80’s and 90’s. Hence it was sweet revenge for Indian cricket fan when a fast bowler of their own delivered a fierce spell which included a test hat-trick.

Jasprit Bumrah came to Indian cricket as a fresh breath of air. The slingy bowler from Gujarat spends a good amount of time with Lasith Malinga during IPL time and made himself a force to reckon with thanks to his pinpoint accuracy and skill. 2019 was a special year for Bumrah and he topped it off with a test hat-trick at the Sabina Park. 

After India was all out for 416 in their first innings, the West Indies top order found Bumrah too hot to handle. He first got the opener John Campbell in his 4th over and then ran through the Windies top order in his very next over as he got Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks and Roston Chase on three consecutive deliveries. DRS helped his cause as his captain Virat Kohli was able to turn around a not out decision by the umpire using Decision-Review system to get Bumrah his well-deserved glory.  

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