Simon Harmer carved out a historic milestone on Wednesday (November 26), breaking Dale Steyn’s long-standing record for the most wickets taken by a South African bowler in a Test series on Indian soil.
Harmer Breaks a 17-Year Record
The 36-year-old off-spinner has been exceptional in the ongoing two-match Test series against India, taking 16 wickets so far — surpassing Steyn’s previous tally of 15 wickets from the 2008 tour.
Harmer, who has over 1000 first-class wickets to his name, achieved the feat across just two Tests, highlighting his dominance on Indian pitches.
Most Wickets for South Africa in a Test Series in India
| Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | 5-Wkt Hauls | Year |
| Simon Harmer | 2 | 16* | 5/35* | 1 | 2025 |
| Dale Steyn | 3 | 15 | 5/23 | 1 | 2008 |
| Paul Adams | 3 | 14 | 6/55 | 1 | 1996 |
| Imran Tahir | 4 | 14 | 5/38 | 1 | 2015 |
| Marco Jansen | 2 | 12* | 6/48 | 1 | 2025 |
Where Harmer Stands in South Africa’s Overall Record vs India
While Harmer now owns the record for a Test series in India, the all-time South African record for most wickets in a Test series against India still belongs to Steyn, who claimed 21 wickets in the 2010–11 home series.
Allan Donald and Kagiso Rabada also feature prominently with 20 wickets each in previous tours.
Most Wickets for South Africa in a Test Series Against India
| Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Best Figures | 5-Wkt Hauls | Year |
| Dale Steyn | 3 | 21 | 6/50 | 2 | 2010–11 |
| Allan Donald | 3 | 20 | 5/40 | 1 | 1996–97 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 3 | 20 | 4/42 | 0 | 2021–22 |
| Allan Donald | 4 | 20 | 7/84 | 2 | 1992–93 |
| Marco Jansen | 3 | 19 | 4/31 | 0 | 2021–22 |
| Shaun Pollock | 2 | 16 | 6/56 | 2 | 2001 |
| Simon Harmer | 2* | 16* | 5/35* | 1 | 2025 |
| Lungi Ngidi | 3 | 15 | 6/71 | 1 | 2021–22 |
| Vernon Philander | 3 | 15 | 6/42 | 1 | 2018 |
| Dale Steyn | 3 | 15 | 5/23 | 1 | 2008 |
Harmer’s Outstanding Series Performance
Harmer has been in top form throughout the tour:
Eden Gardens (1st Test)
- 4 wickets in the first innings
- 4 wickets in the second innings
- Total: 8 wickets
Guwahati (2nd Test)
- First innings: 3/64 in 27 overs
- Second innings (so far): 5 wickets
His five-wicket haul on Day 5 came through a brilliant spell where he dismissed:
- KL Rahul (start of his wicket tally)
- Kuldeep Yadav (clean bowled)
- Dhruv Jurel (two balls later)
- Rishabh Pant (early on Day 5)
- Washington Sundar (to complete his five-for)
Harmer’s consistency and ability to exploit Indian conditions have made him the standout bowler of the series.
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