From Kumble To R Ashwin: 5 Highest Wicket Takers For India In Test Cricket

Soumyajit Dutta

Ravichandran Ashwin is the second highest wicket taker for India in Test cricket [Source: @GautamGambhir/X.com]Ravichandran Ashwin is the second highest wicket taker for India in Test cricket [Source: @GautamGambhir/X.com]

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Indian cricket has produced an impressive lineup of world-class bowlers who have instilled fear in batsmen around the globe. From Test matches to One Day Internationals (ODIs) and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), Indian bowlers are respected and feared by every opponent they face. 

Currently, India ranks third in the World Test Championship table, competing for a spot in the finals in June against Australia. Hence, staying assured of Jasprit Bumrah's heroics in the upcoming encounters at Melbourne and Sydney, let’s take a closer look at the iconic bowlers who have taken countless wickets and left their mark on India's Test cricket history. 

Here is the list of top 5 wicket takers for India in Test cricket.

Players
Matches
Wickets
Strike Rate
Economy Rate
Anil Kumble13261965.92.69
Ravichandran Ashwin10653750.72.83
Kapil Dev13143463.92.78
Harbhajan Singh10341768.52.84
Ravindra Jadeja7831957.12.52

5) Ravindra Jadeja (319 Wickets)

Ravindra Jadeja [Source: @Piyushranjan_11/X.com]Ravindra Jadeja [Source: @Piyushranjan_11/X.com]

'Sir Jadeja' has been close to the heart of every Indian fan as he is known to revive India out of troubles both with the bat and the ball. His most memorable performance with the ball was during the 2023 Delhi Test against Australia, where he achieved a remarkable 10-wicket haul. Additionally, in the 2017 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ravindra Jadeja made a significant impact by taking 25 wickets and scoring two half-centuries throughout the series.

4) Harbhajan Singh (417 Wickets)

Harbhajan Singh [Source: @ICC/X.com]Harbhajan Singh [Source: @ICC/X.com]

'Bhajju Pa' was known for his aggressive bowling with the spin attack. Singh has been instrumental in scalping numerous wickets for India both on home and away soil.  His 7-133 and 8-84 spell against Australia in 2001 was the most memorable.

Another one of Harbhajan Singh's maestro was the West Indies heroics in 2002 where he wreaked havoc and claimed 7 wickets for 48 runs.

3) Kapil Dev (434 Wickets)

Kapil Dev [Source: @ICC/X.com]Kapil Dev [Source: @ICC/X.com]

Kapil Dev, the most iconic captain of India, had his most memorable bowling performance against the West Indies in 1983, where he claimed 9 wickets for 83 runs in a single Test match. However, his 8-wicket haul against Pakistan in Lahore in 1983 is often considered one of his finest bowling spells. This performance was crucial in restricting Pakistan to a manageable total and played a significant role in India's overall success in the series.

2) Ravichandran Ashwin (537 Wickets)

Ravichandran Ashwin [Source: @CricNerdDhruv/X.com]Ravichandran Ashwin [Source: @CricNerdDhruv/X.com]

Ravichandran Ashwin who recently announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket is also studded with a stellar career. However, his best bowling performance came in the 2016 Test match against New Zealand in Indore where his exceptional spell of 7 wickets for 59 runs was instrumental in India's dominant 3-0 series victory. In the 2017 series against Australia too, Ashwin took  21 wickets in the four-match series which was eventually won by India.

1) Anil Kumble (619 Wickets)

Anil Kumble [Source: @StarSportsIndia/X.com]Anil Kumble [Source: @StarSportsIndia/X.com]

The spin legend tops the list of being the highest wicket taker for India in Test matches. Anil Kumble's legendary 10-wicket haul against Pakistan in the 1999 Delhi Test remains one of the most iconic moments in Indian cricket history. His historic achievement of taking all 10 wickets in a single innings, finishing with figures of 10/74, is a feat achieved by only two bowlers in the history of Test cricket which also solidified Kumble's status as one of India's greatest bowlers.