Indian Wicket takers in Test Cricket ,embody the country’s rich cricketing heritage and exceptional bowling prowess. These bowlers have made significant contributions across different eras, demonstrating their skill and consistency in various conditions. From spin-friendly tracks in India to challenging overseas pitches, their remarkable achievements underline India’s strength in both spin and pace bowling. Their success not only highlights their individual talents but also reflects the depth of India’s cricketing legacy and its ability to produce world-class bowlers capable of excelling in Test matches.
Here are the Top Indian Wicket takers in Test Cricket:
5. Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is the second-best wicket-taker for India among current players. He started his career in 2007 and became well-known during the 2007-08 tour of Australia. Renowned for his dedication and ability to adjust, he is still an important player in India’s fast bowling team. Recently, he achieved a milestone by becoming only the second Indian fast bowler to play more than 100 Test matches, showing his remarkable career.
4. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh, a highly successful off-spinner from India, has had a significant impact on Test cricket. He has taken 417 Test wickets, placing him fourth on the all-time wicket-taker list. Harbhajan played Test matches for 18 years, from 1998 to 2015, and formed a formidable bowling duo with Anil Kumble. He was the first Indian off-spinner to achieve 400 Test wickets and boasts a solid bowling average of 32.46.
3. Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev, who led India to a World Cup victory, was the country’s top Test wicket-taker until Anil Kumble broke his record. He made his Test debut against Pakistan in 1978 and retired in 1994. Kapil Dev was the first Indian bowler to reach 400 Test wickets. Among Indian fast bowlers with over 70 Tests, he has the best bowling average of 29.64. Additionally, he is one of India’s greatest all-rounders, with 5,248 runs in Test cricket, including eight centuries and 27 half-centuries.
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2. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin is currently the best bowler from India. Since his debut in 2011, he has become famous for his wide range of deliveries and usually takes around five wickets per match. He also has the highest strike rate among Indian Test bowlers, taking a wicket every 52 balls. Besides his bowling, Ashwin is a valuable lower-order batsman, with five centuries and 12 half-centuries to his name. He ranks second among Indian bowlers for taking five-wicket and ten-wicket hauls, and he might even surpass Anil Kumble’s record.
1. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble holds the record for the most Test wickets by an Indian bowler, with a total of 619 wickets over his 18-year career. He is considered one of the greatest leg-spin bowlers of all time and ranks as the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. Kumble began his Test career in 1990 playing against England and retired in 2008. A standout moment in his career was when he took all ten wickets in a single innings against Pakistan in 1999, making him only the second player ever to achieve this feat.
Here are the wicket taken by the bowlers in tabular format:
Player | Matches | Wickets | BBI | Average | Strike Rate | 5-fors | 10-fors |
Anil Kumble | 132 | 619 | 10/74 | 29.65 | 65.9 | 35 | 8 |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 86 | 442 | 7/59 | 24.13 | 52.2 | 30 | 7 |
Kapil Dev | 131 | 434 | 9/83 | 29.64 | 63.9 | 23 | 2 |
Harbhajan Singh | 103 | 417 | 8/84 | 32.46 | 68.5 | 25 | 5 |
Ishant Sharma | 105 | 311 | 7/74 | 32.4 | 61.6 | 11 | 1 |
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