Ranking India's Spinning Options on Their Wicket-Taking Threat

India have made short shrift of South Africa, the world's No. 1-ranked Test side, during their current series. On a succession of admittedly spin-friendly wicket, it's their slow bowlers that have done the damage.

Incredibly, of the 49 Proteas wickets to fall in the three Tests so far, all but two succumbed to spin!

And while many other cricket playing nations, most noticeably England, have been ruminating on their lack of possessing at least one top-class spinner, India's slow-bowling stocks are overflowing.

But, within this embarrassment of spinning riches, who is currently their most potent weapon?

Here are India's top five current twirlers, ranked in ascending order, based on their most recent form and wicket-taking threat.

Career Test wickets: 417

Average: 32.46

2015 Test wickets: 4

Given India's recent success, many people have probably already forgotten about Harbhajan Singh but, just three months ago, the 35-year-old played against Sri Lanka in Galle.

India's third-highest wicket taker of all-time has been one of the world's best for many years and, in his prime, formed a feared duo with Anil Kumble that combined for more than 1,000 international wickets.

While he hasn't retired from Test cricket, given the form of some of his slow-bowling peers, it would be a surprise to see Singh representing his country in another five-day affair, but things can change quickly.

Career Test wickets: 113

Average: 30.26

2015 Test wickets: 0

Once hailed as the next big thing, Pragyan Ojha made a flying start to his international career and became the joint-fourth fastest Indian bowler to reach the 100-wicket mark.

However, in 2014, the slow left-armer was barred from competitive cricket after his bowling action was deemed to be illegal.

Since undergoing extensive action remodelling, Ojha has returned and, judging from a return of 39 wickets in his last nine first-class games, including 10 scalps against Australia A, is close to his best.

Career Test wickets: 65

Average: 33.96

2015 Test wickets: 22

Despite dropping in and out of the Test team on a regular basis, Amit Mishra has accumulated a decent international record and would probably be a first-choice spinner for most other countries.

While his off the field troubles remain, on it, the diminutive leg-spinner is a pleasing-on-the-eye bowler to watch, using variations of flights as much as revolutions on the ball to fool the batsmen.

Having played second fiddle to the likes of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in his early career, the 33-year-old Mishra now seems secure of his place and provides a perfect foil to his slow-bowling peers.

Career Test wickets: 61

Average: 25.57

2015 Test wickets: 16

Bursting on to the scene as more of a batting all-rounder—he famously scored three triple-centuries in the Ranji Trophy—Ravindra Jadeja has proved himself as an effective out-and-out Test-class spinner.

As evidenced by a miserly economy rate of just 2.38, the 26-year-old can deliver his left-arm orthodox with unerring accuracy, making him a captain's dream in terms of keeping control.

Despite this, due to other spin options being preferred, Jadeja recently spent nearly 15 months out of the Test team, but his red-hot 2015 form (16 wickets at 12.06) means he's unlikely to be dropped in the near future.

Career Test wickets: 169

Average: 25.93

2015 Test wickets: 55

But undoubtedly, India's current "king of spin" is Ravichandran Ashwin, who, with 55 scalps, is the leading Test wicket taker in the world so far in 2015.

The off-spinner's six-foot-plus frame helps him extract steepling bounce and this, combined with a mixed bag of tricks, makes him a very difficult prospect to face—as evidenced by his 24 South African victims in the last three Tests alone!

With six five-wicket hauls this year, the 29-year-old currently sits in 10th place on India's all-time leading wicket taker's list and, for good measure, averages over 31 with the bat in five-day cricket, too.