3 Bowlers With Most Wickets In Kanpur Tests

Kapil Dev has the most wickets in Kanpur Tests (ICC)Kapil Dev has the most wickets in Kanpur Tests (ICC)

India is set to face Bangladesh at the iconic Green Park Stadium in Kanpur for the second and final Test of their series, starting Friday, September 27. After a thumping 280-run victory in the opener at Chennai, the Men in Blue will be keen to seal the series 2-0.

As cricket fans brace for what promises to be another exciting event, it's an opportune moment to take a trip down memory lane and look at the top 3 Indian wicket-takers at Green Park—one of India's most historic Test venues.

3. Harbhajan Singh – 20 Wickets

3. Harbhajan Singh – 20 Wickets (ICC)3. Harbhajan Singh – 20 Wickets (ICC)

Harbhajan Singh made Green Park his playground across four red-ball outings, claiming 20 wickets at a stellar average of 23.85. Harbhajan’s first Test at the venue came in 1999 against New Zealand, where he began quietly, picking up a solitary wicket in the first innings.

However, in the second innings, he turned the game on its head, bagging 3/33, including the crucial scalps of Stephen Fleming and Craig Spearman, which paved the way for an easy Indian chase.

In 2008, when India needed a win to level the series against South Africa, Harbhajan once again rose to the occasion. His 3/29 in the first innings, which included the prized wicket of Jacques Kallis, followed by a match-winning 4/44 in the second innings, was a masterclass in spin bowling.

His final act at Kanpur in 2009 saw him claim five wickets across both innings to guide India to a thumping victory over Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs.

2. Anil Kumble – 21 Wickets

2. Anil Kumble – 21 Wickets (ICC)2. Anil Kumble – 21 Wickets (ICC)

India's ever-reliable "Jumbo," Anil Kumble spun webs around opposition batsmen at Green Park. The veteran leg-spinner stands at second place with 21 wickets at Green Park, where he weaved his magic in just 3 matches between 1996 and 2004 and picked his wickets with a stunning average of 19.76 and an economy rate of 2.23.

His first Test at the venue in 1996 against South Africa set the tone, with Kumble’s 4/71 helping India take a commanding lead. He followed it up by removing opener Andrew Hudson in the second innings, as India romped to a 280-run win.

Kumble’s crowning moment at Kanpur came in 1999 against New Zealand, where his brilliant 10-wicket match haul (4/67 and 6/67) earned India an emphatic win. His performance pulled the rug out from under the Kiwis, as India took a 1-0 series lead.

Despite battling on a flat track in his final Test at Kanpur in 2004, Kumble still managed 6/131 in the first innings against South Africa, a game that eventually ended in a draw.

1. Kapil Dev – 25 Wickets

1. Kapil Dev – 25 Wickets (ICC)1. Kapil Dev – 25 Wickets (ICC)

At the top of the list stands India's legendary all-rounder, Kapil Dev, who led from the front at Green Park with 25 wickets in 7 Tests at an average of 27.84. His journey at Kanpur began against West Indies in 1979, where he managed just a single wicket in a drawn game.

Kapil’s finest bowling displays came in 1979, when he rattled Australia and Pakistan with consecutive six-wicket hauls. Against Australia, Kapil’s fiery spell led India to a convincing 153-run victory.

Three years later, in 1982, Kapil once again showed his brilliance, picking up two wickets in England’s lone innings, further stamping his authority on home soil.

In 1983, fresh off leading India to a World Cup win, Kapil returned to Kanpur with another four-wicket haul, this time against the mighty West Indies, including the prized scalps of Viv Richards and Desmond Haynes.

Kapil’s final memorable performance at Green Park came in 1985 against England, where he once again delivered a four-wicket haul in the first innings. His final Test at the venue in 1986 saw him pick two wickets against Sri Lanka in a drawn contest, cementing his status as Green Park’s most successful bowler.