On This Day, 1964: Bapu Nadkarni’s Record-Breaking Economical Spell Stuns Cricket History

Cricket is a game of records—some are broken frequently, while others seem untouchable. One such remarkable record was set on 12 January 1964 by India’s left-arm spinner Bapu Nadkarni, whose miserly bowling remains legendary.

21 Consecutive Maiden Overs Against England
During India’s home series against England in 1964, the first Test was held in Chennai. On the third day, Nadkarni put the English batsmen under an iron grip. The left-arm spinner bowled 21 consecutive maiden overs, delivering 131 balls without conceding a single run. In total, he bowled 32 overs, 27 of which were maidens, conceding just 5 runs in the remaining five overs. Remarkably, he did this without taking a wicket, posting an extraordinary economy rate of 0.15, the best ever in a single innings in Test cricket history.

In England’s second innings, Nadkarni took 2 wickets for 6 runs in 6 overs, further demonstrating his control. Notably, India used 10 different bowlers in that innings—a record at the time for the most bowlers deployed in a single innings. India had posted 457 runs in their first innings, while England managed 317. Declaring at 152 in the second innings, India left England chasing, but the match eventually ended in a draw, with England scoring 241 for 5.

Career Highlights: 41 Tests, 88 Wickets
Nadkarni debuted for India in 1955 and played his last Test in 1968. In 41 Tests, he claimed 88 wickets with an economy rate of just 1.67. Among players who have played more than 25 Tests, only South Africa’s Trevor Goddard (1.64) recorded a better economy. On the same England tour, during the Kanpur Test, Nadkarni bowled 14 overs, including 11 maidens, conceding only 3 runs, marking the second most economical spell in Test history with an economy of 0.21.

Batting and First-Class Records
Born in Mumbai, Nadkarni was also a handy batsman. In 67 Test innings, he scored 1,414 runs at an average of 25.7, including one century and seven fifties. In first-class cricket, he amassed 8,880 runs and took 500 wickets, underscoring his all-round brilliance. Nadkarni passed away in Mumbai on 17 January 2020, leaving behind a legacy of discipline, accuracy, and sheer mastery.

Bapu Nadkarni’s unyielding focus and immaculate line-and-length bowling remain a benchmark for spinners around the world, proving that cricket is not only about pace or spin but precision and perseverance.