Most International wickets by Indian bowlers

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.

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#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.

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#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.

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#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.

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