Indian Bowlers With The Most Test Wickets
India has been a formidable force in Test cricket for over two decades now. Their dominance lately has been attributed to the stellar performance of their bowlers. They have a bowling unit that no longer fails to pick 20 wickets every Test. India has a fine balance of pacers and spinners in their ranks. The team is no longer dependent on one of its premier bowlers. India has a few bowlers who have notched up impressive numbers in Tests. Let us look onto details at Indian Bowlers With The Most Test Wickets.
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We look at active Indian bowlers with the most Test wickets:
#5 Umesh Yadav – 165
He made his debut in 2011 in the BGT series against Australia in Australia. Umesh Yadav picked up a 5-wicket haul at the WACA, Perth. He had troubled Australian legend Ricky Ponting with his pace and bounce. Yadav though was in and out of the side largely in the first half of his career.
It was once Virat Kohli became captain that Yadav’s potential was realised. He became India’s x-factor seamer in home conditions. Yadav’s slinging action helped him garner reverse swing. His dismantling of South Africa’s lower order in Delhi with the old ball remains one of the better sights of fast bowling in India in the last decade. Yadav currently has 165 wickets in 54 Tests so far at an average of 30.20 with a strike rate of 51.6.
#4 Mohammad Shami – 217
He is one of the best in the business when it comes to seam bowling. Mohammad Shami arguably has the finest seam position in the game. He made his Test debut in 2013 against the West Indies in Kolkata. Shami has since then gone on to be a regular member of the side. He became one of the key weapons for India’s success in overseas conditions too. Shami though enjoys a formidable home record. He has 217 wickets in 61 Tests currently at an average of 27.41 with a strike rate of 50.1.
#3 Ravindra Jadeja – 247
He immediately proved his worth with a 5-wicket haul on his comeback. Ravindra Jadeja broke open the game with his disciplined bowling. Jadeja earned a Test cap in 2012 against England at Nagpur. He soon showed his mettle in the 2013 BGT series. Jadeja was a fine bowler in home conditions for the early part of his career.
But his bowling has improved leaps and bounds in overseas conditions too. Jadeja helps to control one end of the game with his relentlessness. He has picked up 247 wickets in 61 Tests at an average of 24.40. His strike rate of 60.2 might be a bit on the higher side but Jadeja is accustomed to bowling long spells in search of a wicket.
#2 Ishant Sharma – 311
He was an absolute workhorse for India, especially during the first 10 years of his playing career. Ishant Sharma burst onto the scene with a stellar display of fast bowling against Ricky Ponting at the WACA, Perth. He won the player of the series award in BGT 2008 when Australia toured India. Sharma bowled a hostile spell at Lords in 2014 to bounce out England.
He reinvented his career after playing county cricket in 2018. Sharma became part of the celebrated triumvirate of Indian pacers who tasted overseas success in the 2018-19 period. He has 311 wickets to his tally in 105 Tests at an average of 32.40 with a strike rate of 61.6.
#1 Ravichandran Ashwin – 452
He continues to break records with every spell that he bowls. Ravichandran Ashwin is one of those shining examples who made the cut from the IPL to the Test side. Ashwin holds the Indian record for the most number of player of the series award (9) in Tests.
He has picked up 452 wickets in 89 Tests (second fastest – both in the number of Tests and the number of balls bowled). Ashwin has already picked up 30 five-wicket hauls and 7 ten-wicket hauls. His average of 24.23 and a strike rate of 52.3 both are comfortably the best on this list.
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