International cricket comprises matches of both limited and unlimited overs. T20 and ODI matches fall under limited whereas test match is the longest form of cricket. Meanwhile, taking wickets for his country in international cricket is what every bowler dream to do. A bowler can also win the game for his country just like the batsman by taking important wickets in crucial times. In this article, SportzPoint brings you the top 5 Indians with the most international wickets across formats.

Also Read: Chris Gayle hopes for a farewell game in Jamaica

#1. Anil Kumble | 956 Wickets

Former Indian skipper and spinner Anil Kumble is the most international wicket-taker for India to date. Anil Kumble is a legend of the game especially in Test Cricket as he took 619 wickets in 236 innings in the format. Moreover, in ODI's Kumble also took 337 wickets with an average of 30.89. So, across formats, Anil Kumble took a total of 956 wickets in his career that leads him to the most successful bowler for India.

In Test cricket, Kumble has 35 fifers and eight 10-for in his long 19-year career. In ODI's Kumble took 2 fifers in his 265 innings. However, in combined formats, Anil Kumble is currently at the third spot on the list of most wickets in international cricket just behind Muralidharan(1347) and Warne(1001).

#2. Harbhajan Singh | 711 Wickets

Another Indian spinner comes on the list of most international wickets by Indian bowlers, Harbhajan Singh who took 711 wickets across formats. Harbhajan is formally known as 'Bhajji' played for India in 367 matches in his long 18 years career. In which he scalps 417, 269, and 25 wickets in Test, ODI's, and T20Is respectively. However, that counts a total of 711 wickets across formats with an average of 32.54 including 28 fifers and eight 10-for.

Harbhajan Singh last played for India back in the 2016 T20 Cricket World Cup against UAE at Dhaka. From then he is playing in IPL regularly and it's expected that his career has unofficially ended at the international level.

Read Also: T20 World Cup 2022: Meet the 8 teams who already qualified in the Top 12

#3. Kapil Dev | 687 Wickets

India's 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev comes at the third spot in this list of most international wickets by Indian bowlers. Kapil Dev played in 356 matches in which he took a total of 687 wickets and that leads him to the third most successful bowler for India across formats. The Indian pacer took 434 wickets with an average of 29.64 including 23 fifers and two 10-for.

In ODI's the former Indian skipper took 253 wickets in 221 innings with an impressive average of 27.45 including one fifer. Moreover, Kapil Dev has also scored 9033 runs in international cricket across formats.

#4. Ravichandran Ashwin | 618 Wickets

India's current spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has already grabbed 618 wickets in his international career. However, Ashwin comes at third in this list of most international wickets by Indian bowlers. The spinner played for India in 238 matches in which he scalps 618 wickets so far and will add more in the future. Ashwin took 413, 150, and 55 wickets so far in Test, ODI's, and T20I format respectively.

Moreover, Ashwin bowls with an impressive average of 24.56 including 30 fifers in the longest format of the game. In ODI's he took 150 wickets with an average of 32 and 55 wickets in T20I so far with a great average of 22.47.

Also Read: Most T20 Runs in Cricket History

#5. Zaheer Khan | 610 Wickets

The second Indian Pacer, Zaheer Khan in this list after the legend Kapil Dev who scalps 618 wickets. However, the left arm-pacer Zaheer Khan took 610 wickets in his 15-year career for India across formats. In which, 311 wickets came in Test cricket, 282 in ODI's, and 17 wickets in T20Is. Zaheer has played 309 matches for India at the international level in which he scalps those 610 wickets with an average of 31.14 including 12 fifers and one 10-for.

Zaheer Khan has so much underrated bowler for India as he was one of the reasons for India to list the 2011 World Cup. In the tournament, Zaheer took 21 wickets that leads India to the trophy after 28 long years.

Read Also: Most wins in T20I as captain

N.B: The stats are accurate as of 08/11/2021.

As the ICC World Test Championship 2023-2025 is getting closer to the grand final, it is now time to look back at the bowlers with standout performances. They have constantly troubled batsmen which led to their team's success.

Who do you think are the ones with most wickets? Take a look at the highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Jasprit Bumrah | India

Jasprit Bumrah had a remarkable campaign in WTC 2023-25 cycle and has taken the most number of wickets. He took 77 wickets in 15 matches, with an average of 15.09. 

Bumrah recorded five 5-wicket hauls in the cycle and also had his best bowling figure of 6/45 in an innings against England.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Jasprit Bumrah stats in WTC 2023-2025

Pat Cummins | Australia 

The Australian skipper, Pat Cummins, has done wonders with the ball, by taking 73 wickets in 17 matches. He is the leading wicket taker for Australia and can also be on top by showcasing his wicket-taking skills in the WTC final against South Africa. 

His best bowling performance in the tournament was a 6-wicket haul for 91 runs.

Pat Cummins stats in WTC 2023-2025

Read Also: WTC Final: Australia and South Africa announce their squads

Mitchell Starc | Australia 

Yet another Australian legend to feature in this list, who is just behind Cummins by one wicket. This fiery left-arm pacer have always been a key bowling of their team. He took 72 wickets in 18 matches total.

Mitchell Starc's best bowling figure in WTC 2023-25 includes a 6-wicket haul for 48 runs.

Mitchell Starc stats in WTC 2023-2025

Other players with 60+ wickets in WTC 2023-25

Seems like the Aussies and Indians have purely dominated the bowling sides and got most wickets up their sleeves.

Read Also: Fav four in Test cricket: Kohli vs Root vs Williamson vs Smith stats in Tests

Here are the other players who crossed the 60 wickets mark and deserves a shoutout in the list of highest wicket-takers in WTC 2023-25.

Till now, 11 Indian cricketers have been inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Former Indian captain and legend MS Dhoni became the latest Indian to be inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame list. 

Read Also | India's 2011 World Cup winning squad: Where are they now?

Along with MS Dhoni, Aussie great Matthew Hayden, South African legend Hashim Amla, former South African captain Graeme Smith, former Kiwi leader Daniel Vettori, and former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and English legend Sarah Taylor were also inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame 2025.

Unorthodox, unconventional and effective 🙌

A cricketer beyond numbers and statistics 👏

MS Dhoni is inducted in the ICC Hall of Fame 🥇

More ➡️ https://t.co/oV8mFaBfze pic.twitter.com/AGRzL0aP79

— ICC (@ICC) June 9, 2025

Here are the Indian cricketers who have been inducted into the prestigious "ICC Hall of Fame". 

Indian Cricketers in the ICC Hall of Fame

It's been 14 years since India lifted the 2011 World Cup, a moment etched in every fan's memory. That legendary squad brought joy to millions on that unforgettable night in Mumbai, but where are they now?

While many retired, some explored new paths in cricket, and others found different callings, one key player continues to represent India in ODIs.

Explore the current status of India's 2011 World Cup winning squad and know their journeys since the victory and where are they now.

The unforgettable 2011 World Cup Winning squad

Here's the overview of squad members:

MS Dhoni (C & WK), Virender Sehwag (VC), Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yusuf Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, S Sreesanth, Piyush Chawla, Ravichandran Ashwin.

Coach: Gary Kirsten

Find out the updates on each one of them below:

1. MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni is the winning captain of 2011 World Cup, who finished off in style with a six to seal the victory for India. He also led India to victory in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, becoming the first captain to claim all ICC limited-overs trophies.

He continued to captain India for several years and played a crucial role as a finisher in white-ball cricket. He also led CSK to win four IPL titles from 2011-2023.

• Retirement: Dhoni retired from test cricket in December 2014, and announced his retirement from international cricket (ODIs and T20Is) on August 15, 2020. However, he continues to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
• Currently doing: Continues to captain Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He is involved in various business ventures and endorsements.

Read Also: Suryavanshi touching Dhoni's feet: Here are 10 best moments of IPL 2025

2. Virender Sehwag

Virender Sehwag was the vice-captain of India's 2011 WC-winning squad and provided explosive starts at the top of the order, including a stunning knock of 175 runs against Bangladesh in the opening match.

He continued his attacking batting in Test and ODI formats for a few more years.

• Retirement: Sehwag retired from all forms of international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He is a prominent cricket analyst and commentator, and a member of the Anti-Doping Appeal Panel of the National Anti-Doping Agency under the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. He also runs the Sehwag International School in Haryana and has ventured into the sports gear and organic farming business.

3. Gautam Gambhir

Gautam Gambhir was an integral part of India's success in the 2011 WC, especially with his knock of 97 runs in the final. He continued to play a key role in India's top order for a period. He also led Kolkata Knight Riders to 2 IPL titles in 2012 and 2014.

Later, he served as a mentor for Lucknow Super Giants and then KKR, guiding them to their third title in 2024.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: In July 2024, Gambhir was appointed as the head coach of India for three years until the 2027 ODI World Cup. He got his first major ICC title in a coaching role by leading India to victory in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy as the head coach.

4. Sachin Tendulkar 

Sachin Tendulkar was the leading run-scorer for India and the second overall in the tournament (482 runs in 9 innings), including two centuries.

He scored his record-setting 100th international century in March 2012 and became a member of the Rajya Sabha in the same year. Additionally, he was a part of Mumbai Indians team that won the IPL in 2013.

• Retirement: Retired from ODI cricket in December 2012, and from tests in November 2013. He also retired from the IPL in 2013.
• Currently doing: Sachin continues to be involved in cricketing and social initiatives, and remains a global ambassador for the sport.

Read Also: Pataudi Trophy renamed as Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy ahead of India vs England test series

5. Yuvraj Singh

The "Player of the tournament," Yuvraj Singh, delivered an exceptional all-rounder performance throughout the World Cup. He successfully battled germ-cell cancer in 2011 and returned to cricket the next year (2012).

Yuvraj continued to play white ball cricket for India occasionally and played in various IPL teams, winning twice with SRH in 2016 and MI in 2019.

• Retirement: Formally retired from international cricket in June 2019.
• Currently doing: He is involved in various cricketing leagues and charitable initiatives. He also mentored India's emerging star, Abhishek Sharma, and has a significant role in shaping his career.

6. Suresh Raina

Suresh Raina played an attacking role in the lower middle order, particularly in the quarter-final against Australia (unbeaten 34), and the semi-final against Pakistan (unbeaten 36).

He continued to be a significant part of India's white-ball setup for several years and was a key player for CSK in the IPL.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from all forms on August 15, 2020, on the same day as Dhoni. However, he continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues for a period.
• Currently doing: Raina has been involved in commentary and various cricket-related activities.

7. Virat Kohli

As the youngest batsman in the squad (22 years 95 days), Virat Kohli showed glimpses of his future greatness by performing well in the 2011 World Cup, including a century against Bangladesh.

Kohli rose to be one of the world's premier batsmen and captained India across all formats. He became the most successful test captain in history for India. He led India to numerous victories and broke several batting records.

He is the only player from India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad who is still actively playing international cricket (ODI format).

• Retirement: He retired from T20Is after India won the T20 World Cup in 2024, and also retired from Test Cricket in 2025.
• Currently doing: He won the IPL title with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and had a phenomenal season. He is also expected to play in the 2027 World Cup.

Read Also: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

8. Yusuf Pathan

Yusuf Pathan was a part of India's World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and played as a batting all-rounder, primarily in the lower middle order. He continued to play in domestic cricket and the IPL, playing for various franchises, including KKR and SRH.

Pathan was also a part of India's 2007 T20 World Cup winning squad.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in February 2021.
• Currently doing: He became a member of parliament from the Baharampur Lok Sabha constituency of West Bengal, and has been seen participating in the Legends League Cricket.

9. Zaheer Khan

The shepherd of India's pace attack, Zaheer Khan, was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the 2011 World Cup with 21 wickets in 9 matches. His contributions to the bowling unit were phenomenal.

He continued to represent India in internationals for a few more years.

• Retirement: Khan retired from international cricket in October 2015.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in commentary and coaching roles. He is also a cricket expert and analyst.

10. Harbhajan Singh

Harbhajan Singh proved to be crucial for the team in the WC 2011, with the kind of experience he had in the game. He continued to play for India occasionally after the World Cup, but his international appearances became less frequent.

He continued to play IPL for franchises like MI, CSK and KKR.

• Retirement: Retired from all formats in December 2021.
• Currently doing: He is a cricket commentator and an analyst. He has also ventured into politics, serving as a member of parliament in the Rajya Sabha.

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

11. Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra played three matches in the 2011 World Cup and was particularly effective in the semi-final against Pakistan, where he took 2 wickets for 33 runs.

He faced injuries but made a remarkable comeback to the Indian T20I team and played the T20 World Cup that year.

• Retirement: Nehra retired from all forms of international cricket in November 2017.
• Currently doing: He has been involved in coaching in the IPL (head coach: Gujarat Titans) and won the 2022 season.

12. Munaf Patel

Munaf Patel played a significant role as a consistent medium-pacer in the 2011 WC winning squad, picking 11 wickets in 8 matches. He continued to play domestic cricket and in various T20 leagues after the World Cup.

• Retirement: He retired from all formats in December 2018.
• Currently doing: Served as the bowling coach for Delhi Capitals since the 2024 season and has been seen participating in Legends League Cricket.

13. S Sreesanth

S Sreesanth came in as a replacement for Praveen Kumar (ruled out due to injury) in India's 2011 WC squad. He played 2 matches, including the final.

His career was significantly impacted by a spot-fixing scandal in the 2013 IPL, which led to a ban from cricket.

• Retirement: He made a comeback in domestic cricket after the ban was reduced, and retired from all domestic forms in March 2022.
• Currently doing: Sreesanth is the co-owner of the Kollam Aeries team in the Kerala Cricket League. He also participated in reality shows like Big Boss and was involved in acting and other ventures.

14. Piyush Chawla 

The youngest player in India's 2011 World Cup winning squad, Piyush Chawla (22 yrs 46 days), picked 4 wickets in the three matches he played. He continued to play domestic cricket and IPL for various franchises and won.

• Retirement: Chawla announced from all forms of cricket in June 2025. His last international appearance for India was in 2012.
• Currently doing: He has been associated with the sport as an analyst and was seen giving inputs in per-match shows in IPL and other leagues.

Read Also: Most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by an Indian bowler

15. Ravichandran Ashwin

The spin master, Ravichandran Ashwin, played only 2 matches in the tournament, picking up 4 wickets. He turned out to be one of the most successful Test bowlers for India, with 537 Test wickets.

Ashwin later developed into a useful all-rounder and could bat well. He was also named ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2016.

• Retirement: Announced retirement from international cricket in December 2024.
• Currently doing: He is actively involved in playing cricket in IPL and played in the TNPL as well. Ashwin is also an active YouTuber, who analyses and shares cricketing stories on his channel, which currently has 1.71M subscribers. 

In Test cricket, captaincy is often associated with experience and seasoned wisdom, which matters in the long format. However, young talents step up early and prove how they are worthy of leadership.

With Shubman Gill stepping up as the new test captain for India, let's take a moment to celebrate the youngest cricketers to lead India in tests.

Here we bring you the five youngest cricket to ever represent India in tests as a captain.

5. Shubman Gill (25 years 285 days) | 2025

The newest name to join this list of young Indian test captains is Shubman Gill. At the age of 25 years and 285 days, Gill became the 37th test captain of India, and is set to lead in the longest format of the game.

The Indian team will play under Gill's captaincy with the commencement of five-match test series against England on June 20, 2025. This was a major change in the test squad after the former captain, Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, announced retirement from tests.

Gill made his test debut against Australia in December 2020, and scored 1893 runs, with 5 centuries and 7 fifties so far. With this new turnaround in his career, he became the 5th youngest cricketer to lead India in tests.

Read Also: Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

4. Ravi Shastri (25 years 229 days) | 1988

A prominent all-rounder and later a successful coach for the Indian team, Ravi Shastri also briefly held the reins of Test captaincy. He took on the role at the age of 25 years and 229 days, when he led India against West Indies on January 11, 1988.

His captaincy tenure was limited to a single match, but it was a memorable one, as India secured a victory by 255 runs. Shastri scored 3830 runs and took 151 wickets in his test career, that spanned from 1981 to 1992.

3. Kapil Dev (24 years 48 days) | 1983

The legendary all-rounder, Kapil Dev stepped into test captaincy for India at the age of 24 years and 48 days. His first match as a captain was against West Indies on February 23, 1983.

Dev captained India in 34 matches and proved how he was worthy of the position with true leadership skills at such young age. He took 434 wickets and scored 5248 runs in his test career (1978-1994).

He is still the youngest captain to win the World Cup for any team, and comes third in the list for youngest cricketers to lead India in tests.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

2. Sachin Tendulkar (23 years 169 days) | 1996

One of the greatest batsmen of all time, Sachin Tendulkar also had his tenure as the test captain of India at the age of 23 years and 169 days. He first took on the captaincy to lead India in a match against Australia, in 1996.

Tendulkar's captaincy journey had two phases, with him leading in 25 matches. He had an incredible test career with 15921 runs in 200 matches, which is still the highest by any batter in the world!

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

1. Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi (21 years 77 days) | 1962

Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi remains India's youngest ever test captain, having taken the role at the age of just 21 years and 77 days! He was famously known as 'Tiger' Pataudi in the field of cricket.

He captained India in 40 matches out of his 46-match test career. Despite losing his right eye in an accident early in his career, he continued to play and lead with brilliant skills and courage.

Pataudi scored 2793 runs, smashing 6 centuries and 16 half-centuries in his test career (1961-1975).

Indian bowlers, especially pacers, have always waited for the tour of England since it produces seam-friendly pitches, which help them get more wickets. From legends of yesteryears like Kapil to modern-day greats like Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, they have had success in England against England. 

With another England tour forthcoming, we present you the list of bowlers with the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. 

1. Ishant Sharma | 48 Wickets

Ishant Sharma has the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. He is widely known for his pace and wicket-taking abilities. He took 48 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy of 3.29.

Ishant's ability to make the ball come in from a difficult length has worked well on English conditions. Moreover, his short-ball strategy during the 2014 series at Lord's helped India register a famous win in England.

Read Also: Most international wickets for India

Sharma's stats vs England in England

2. Kapil Dev | 43 Wickets

The Indian legend, Kapil Dev, is the second-highest wicket-taker in the list with 43 wickets in 13 matches played. The former Indian captain has an exceptional record against England and dominated on their home soil throughout his career.

Kapil's incredible outswing always had the batters guessing and with his ability to clean up tails, also helped him get many wickets in those conditions.

Dev stats vs England in England

3. Jasprit Bumrah | 37 Wickets

One of the most successful bowlers of this era, Jasprit Bumrah, climbed up the ladder really fast in his career. His finest skillset and ability to generate steep bounce and challenging seam movement with his unorthodox bowling action, got him 37 wickets in just 8 matches (15 innings) so far, and there's more to come in the future.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Bumrah stats vs England in England

4. Anil Kumble | 36 Wickets 

Anil Kumble holds the fourth place for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. He took 36 wickets in 10 matches, which is commendable for a spinner in such conditions.

Kumble was the senior-most bowler of the squad during that time, and was often described as bowling "faster" for a spinner, that too with high accuracy. His spin deliveries was considered to be as fast as a "jumbo jet."

Kumble's stats vs England in England

5. Bishan Singh Bedi | 35 Wickets

Bishan Singh Bedi is the one name that stands out while discussing the wicket-taking rate against England. Bedi's incredible stat as a spinner in pace bowling friendly conditions like England sets him apart from the rest.

He took 35 wickets in 12 matches (18 innings), with an economy less than 3. Bedi also has the highest number of maidens among all the players in this list.

Singh Bedi stats vs England in England

6. Mohammed Shami | 34 Wickets

Mohammad Shami has a brilliant overseas record, and only a few Indian bowlers can be at the level with him. He has 34 wickets in 12 matches to his name, with an economy of 3.56.

Shami consistently hits challenging lengths, which makes him a wicket-taker against England batters. His unfortunate absence in the upcoming Test squad against England therefore became a point of concern for the fans.

Shami's status vs England in England

7. B. S. Chandrasekhar | 31 Wickets

The wizard of leg spin, B.S. Chandrashekhar, makes his way up here with 31 wickets in 9 matches against England on their home soil. He had a phenomenal bowling figure in a match with 8 wickets (conceding 114 runs).

His most cherished performance against England came in the 1971 Oval Test, where he took 6 wickets for 38 runs, leading India to secure their first series victory on the English soil.

Read Also: Weird Styles: Indian players with unusual bowling actions

Chandrashekhar stats vs England in England

8. Zaheer Khan | 31 Wickets

One of India's most celebrated pace bowlers, Zaheer Khan, holds the eighth position with 31 wickets in only 8 away matches vs England. The former left-arm pacer was one of the best for India during his era. 

Zaheer had made legends like Alastair Cook his bunny with his lethal outswingers, going away from Cook. He was the best of his time, who significantly enhanced India's bowling strength.

Khan's stats vs England in England 

9. Ravindra Jadeja | 22 Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja, who is one of India's key all-rounders, holds the ninth position with 22 wickets in 10 matches. He is equally good with the bat as he is with spinning the ball for his nation.

Jadeja's ability to bowl long spells with variations, makes him a vital asset for the Indian team.

Read Also: Most Wickets for India in Test Cricket | Ravindra Jadeja overtakes Ishant Sharma’s tally

Jadeja stats vs England in England 

10. Vinoo Mankad | 20 Wickets

Vinoo Mankad stands out from an early era. The former all-rounder truly made his mark on England soil by taking 20 wickets in just 6 matches. 

With his tight bowling and impeccable lengths, Mankad made the most out of the English conditions and proved why he was considered one of the best of his generation.

Mankad stats vs England in England 

11. Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 20 Wickets 

The eleventh name on the list, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, who also had success in the English conditions, took 20 wickets in 10 matches.

He was a valuable off-spinner for the team, known for his accuracy and control over the ball.

Venkataraghavan's status vs England in England