A year full of cricketing drama and engaging encounters has almost come to an end. 2024 turned out to be a fascinating year for the enjoyers of cricket's longest format. From veteran cricketers to breakout stars, this year gifted us some enriching performances to be recalled for a long.

Along with some supreme performers with the bat, we have also witnessed countless magnificent performances with the red ball across the year.  

In this special article, Sportz Point aims to cultivate those cricketers who have bagged the most Test wickets in 2024. 

1. Jasprit Bumrah | 71 wickets 

Jasprit Bumrah ensured his dominance in the bowling charts across every format of the game this year. The Indian pacer tops the list with a career-best annual tally of 71 wickets in just 13 Tests in 2024. 

Bumrah’s 71 wickets is now the fifth most by an Indian bowler in a calendar year, a list led by Kapil Dev, who picked 75 wickets in 18 matches in 1983.

The 31-year-old bowler recorded his best spell of the year in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam as he picked up 6 wickets for just 45 runs in 15.5 overs. 

2. Gus Atkinson | 52 wickets

Gus Atkinson emerged as one of the fiercest faces of the English bowling attack in Tests. The 26-year-old all-rounder collected 52 wickets in only 11 Tests across the year.

Surprisingly, Atkinson made his Test debut with England only in July but made the start memorable in the best possible way. Atkinson bagged a seven-wicket haul in his first outing for England in the first Test against West Indies at Lords.

Atkinson also became the first pacer since 1996 to pick up ten wickets on a Test debut. 

3. Shoaib Bashir | 49 wickets 

The 21-year-old spinner is another surprising breakout star in Tests this year. Making his debut against India in February, Shoaib Bashir bagged an impressive 49 wickets in 15 Tests throughout the year.

Bashir broke a unique record set by the likes of James Anderson and Bill Voce, becoming the first English bowler to grab two fifers in a Test at the age of 21 during the fifth and final Test against India in March.

The off-spinner recorded his career-best figure in Tests after picking up 5 wickets for 41 runs in the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge. 

4. Matt Henry | 48 wickets 

Matt Henry breaks into the list with 48 wickets in only 9 Tests across the year to establish himself as the most dependable bowler for New Zealand in red-ball cricket.

The Kiwi veteran clinched an unbelievable fifer in the first Test against India with a 5-15 figure, maintaining an economy rate of only 1.10!

The 33-year-old pacer also picked up 7 wickets during the second Test against Australia at Christchurch, making the record of the best bowling figures (23-4-67-7) by a Kiwi speedster at home.

5. Ravindra Jadeja | 48 wickets 

Ravindra Jadeja may have had a shaky year with the Indian team struggling in Tests, but the veteran bagged 48 wickets in 12 matches across the year. 

The 36-year-old spinning all-rounder completed the 300-wicket mark in Tests during the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. He became the seventh Indian cricketer to claim 300 wickets in Test cricket, as well as the fourth-fastest (73 matches) to reach 300 wickets, following R. Ashwin (54 matches), Anil Kumble (66), and Harbhajan Singh (72).

Jadeja also became the fifth-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 312 wickets during the third Test against New Zealand in November, surpassing greats such as Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma.

6. Prabath Jayasuriya | 48 wickets 

Prabath Jayasuriya has etched his name as one of the most surprising bowlers this year. The Sri Lankan cricketer accumulated 48 wickets in 9 matches throughout the year,

Marking his Test debut in 2022, the 33-year-old spinner achieved the 100-wicket mark in just 17 matches to become the second-quickest player to take 100 Test wickets, a list led by England's George Lohmann who did so in 16 matches in 1886.

Prabath Jayasuriya also became the 10th left-arm spinner in the world to take 10 or more five-wicket hauls in Test cricket after picking 5 for 129 during Sri Lanka's second Test against South Africa in December. 

7. Ravichandran Ashwin | 47 wickets 

Ravichandran Ashwin finished the year with 47 wickets in 11 matches before announcing his retirement from international cricket in December during India's tour of Australia.

The veteran Indian spinner recorded his best bowling figure this year during the first Test against Bangladesh in September. Ashwin grabbed six wickets for 88 wickets in the second innings.

The 38-year-old called time on his international career but left the ring on a high, being India's second-highest wicket-taker in test cricket.

8. Pat Cummins | 37 wickets 

The Australian captain picked up 37 wickets in 9 matches this year, helping Australia to edge closer to the World Test Championship Final.

However, Pat Cummins equalled Ravi Ahswin's record for most wickets (195) in the World Test Championship during the Boxing Day Test victory against India. The 31-year-old Australian pacer has achieved the mark in 86 innings as Ashwin leads the list with fewer games. (78). 

Cummins recorded his best bowling figure in Tests for 2024, during the second Test against India, completing a five-wicket-haul for 57 runs in 14 overs.

The duck - dismissal without scoring a single run, is a humiliation that haunts all cricketers, but it’s become an almost expected feature for the names that appear here. Some were genuine bowling greats, with match-winning spells and legendary careers with the ball. But when it came to contributing runs, they routinely exited without troubling the scorers.

In this article, we will take a look at most ducks by an Indian in Tests.

Also Read: Most International Wickets for India (Pacers)

Most Ducks by an Indian in Tests

1. Ishant Sharma | 34

Ishant Sharma tops our list by securing 34 ducks with no runs, and his name appears among the Indian players who have scored the most ducks in Test cricket. Ishant Sharma was known for his lion-hearted spells and his remarkable longevity as a fast bowler. With the bat, however, his long limbs and hesitant stroke play made for awkward viewing.

Ishant's tally of 34 ducks in just 142 innings shows just how frequently he was dismissed for zero. In the 102 matches that Sharma has played for India, he has managed to score a total of just 751 runs at an average close to 7.5.

2. Zaheer Khan | 29

Zaheer Khan was one of India’s most dependable fast bowlers in the 2000s and early 2010s, especially overseas. A left-arm swing bowler capable of troubling the best batsmen, his contributions with the ball were immense.

During his career that lasted from 2000 to 2014, Zaheer Khan, however played a total of 1231 runs at an average of 11.95 and was dismissed on 29 occasions without scoring any runs.

3. Jasprit Bumrah | 28

Jasprit Bumrah might be the spearhead of India’s bowling attack, but his form with the bat is not so well. In the previous ENG vs IND Test series, Bumrah recorded his sixth duck in seven innings. Since the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne in December 2024, Bumrah’s scores read: 0, 0, 22, 0, 0, 0, 0.

Bumrah played a total of 341 runs at an average of 6.55 and was dismissed on 28 occasions without scoring any runs.

4. Bhagwath Chandrasekhar | 23

Bhagwath Chandrasekhar was ranked as the worst batsman in the history of Test cricket. He registered 23 ducks from 80 innings, averaging one duck every four innings.

But if one were to form a eleven of No 11s who have played Test cricket, Chandrasekhar would be the No 11 in this team as well. Chandra played 58 Tests and took 242 wickets, an outstanding match-winning bowler for India. But in these 58 Tests he scored only 167 runs. That meant he took more wickets than he scored runs. His Test batting average was 4.07.

Also Read: Most Test wickets by pacers in away tests

Bishan Singh Bedi | 20

Bishen Singh Bedi is 5th on the list with 20 ducks during his illustrous test career that saw many twists and turns. Not known much as a batsman, he was a tailender who didn’t know much about batting. But however he ranks as one of India’s best spinners who bowled with a big heart and known for his deceiving flighted balls.

During his career that lasted from 1964 to 1979, Bedi played a total of only 167 runs at an average of 4.07 and was dismissed on 20 occasions without scoring any runs.

India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav has returned to the nets for the first time since undergoing surgery on his lower right abdomen. Asia Cup 2025 is going to start from 9th September. All the teams have started their preparations. This time the tournament will be played in T20 format. In such a situation, it is very important for Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav to be fit. The Indian skipper is now working hard to be fully fit in time for the tournament, which will also act as a key preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

If he recovers in time, SKY will not only lead the side but also have a chance to break multiple T20I records in Asia Cup 2025. Let's have a look.

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer's best knocks in Tests

Records Suryakumar Yadav can break in Asia Cup 2025

3,000 T20I Runs with 160+ Strike Rate

The 34-year-old is on the verge of becoming the first player in T20I history to score 3,000 runs while maintaining a strike rate above 160. He is currently 402 runs short of the milestone. No batter in history has got to 3,000 T20I runs with a strike rate above 150.

Most Centuries in T20Is

Surya also needs one more century to equal the joint record of five T20I hundreds held by Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell. Batting in the top order will give him a golden opportunity to at least equal, if not surpass, their record. Given his IPL 2025 form, breaking it outright isn’t out of the question.

Players with 150 T20I Sixes

Sky just needs four more sixes to join the elite club of players with 150 T20I sixes, with 146 sixes to his name. Only Rohit (205), Martin Guptill (173), Muhammad Waseem (168), and Jos Buttler (160) have cleared the rope more often. This one could be ticked off within a match or two.

Surya is focused on recovery and fitness

To speed up his recovery, Suryakumar withdrew from the Duleep Trophy 2025 and has been concentrating on strength-building, mobility work, and match fitness at the NCA. His training is aimed at ensuring he can handle the demands of back-to-back matches in the Asia Cup.

Also Read: ENG vs IND: Every record Shubman Gill broke in test series

Surya's performance in IPL 2025

Surya was last seen playing for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. He batted brilliantly this season and won the Most Valuable Player award by scoring 717 runs for Mumbai Indians.

Rohit Sharma retired from the T20 format after the T20 World Cup 2024. After this, Surya is captaining the Indian T20I team. Surya has shown excellent captaincy. He has won 17 matches for India in 22 matches. 

The Indian team will start its campaign in Asia Cup 2025 from September 10, where it will face UAE. Apart from this, the big match between India and Pakistan will be played on September 14.

Shreyas Iyer is on the verge of a comeback to India’s Test and T20I squads after dominating in ODIs and IPL 2025. Selectors now see Iyer as an all-format solution for India’s middle order, especially ahead of the Asia Cup and West Indies Test series. His comeback is expected to bring stability and experience, especially on spin-friendly tracks where India has struggled lately. 

Iyer has been out of favour in Tests since a back issue and poor form saw him lose his berth during the home series against England last year. The decision-makers, however, feel Iyer has done all the right things since losing his contract after expressing a reluctance to play domestic cricket. 

Also Read: Indian Cricket Team's upcoming schedule (men and women)

Let's have a look at Shreyas Iyer's best knocks in Tests.

Shreyas Iyer's best knocks in Tests

105 vs New Zealand (2021)

It was one of Shreyas Iyer's best knocks in Tests against New Zealand in the first test match in Kanpur. Iyer played a phenomenal knock of 105 runs off 171 balls, including 13 fours and two sixes. This knock was memorable for Iyer as it was his debut hundred in the test match against New Zealand.

92 vs Sri Lanka (2022)

Iyer played a gem of a knock in the pink-ball Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium against Sri Lanka in 2022. India were 86/4 after electing to bat. Iyer shone with a blistering 92 off 98 deliveries, whipping 10 fours and four maximums.

He played with the tail-enders and was the last man to be dismissed (252/10). India eventually won by 238 runs.

87 vs Bangladesh (2022)

Bowling first, India folded Bangladesh on 227. India, however, had a shaky start and were down to 94/4. Iyer then joined hands with a ferocious-looking Rishabh Pant and the duo plundered 159 runs for the fifth wicket. The pair played a part as India snatched an 87-run lead (314/10).

Iyer smacked 87 off 105 deliveries (4s: 10, 6s: 2), lifting India from the trenches.

86 vs Bangladesh (2022)

India stumbled in the first Test too (112/4 in 31.4 overs). They needed to keep the Tigers at bay. Iyer and Cheteshwar Pujara delivered the needful, stitching a 149-run partnership before the latter departed (261/5).

Iyer got out the next day after a well-struck 86 off 192 deliveries. India ended up scoring 404 in the first innings and eventually won by 188 runs.

67 vs Sri Lanka (2022)

Rishabh Pant put the Sri Lankan attack to the sword with a record-breaking half-century while Shreyas Iyer yet again conjured up a measured fifty to let India grab complete control of the second Test over Sri Lanka.

Pant’s 31-ball 50 and Iyer’s 67 after useful contributions from top-order batters meant that India set Sri Lanka a mammoth 447-run target after declaring their second innings at 303 for nine. 

Also Read: ENG vs IND: Every record Shubman Gill broke in test series

65 vs New Zealand (2021)

It was another mature knock from Iyer while playing only his second innings in the purest format. India (41/3) were in a spot of bother when the debutant arrived. Despite running out of partners, Iyer managed to carve a 125-ball 65. He ended up top-scoring for the hosts.

He was noted for fetching pivotal stands with Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha, helping India reach 167/7.

Matt Henry dismissed opener Brian Bennett for a duck during his first over of Zimbabwe’s second innings on the third day of the second Test, and that made it the 38th consecutive innings of him taking at least one wicket. Among pacers, only Australia’s Dennis Lillee and Pakistan’s Waqar Younis have maintained a longer streak of taking at least one wicket in an innings.

In this article, we will have a look at the pacers with longest wicket-taking streak in Tests.

Also Read: Most Hundreds in Test cricket among active players

Longest wicket-taking streak in Tests among pacers

1. Dennis Lillee | 41 Innings

One of Australia's greatest ever fast bowlers, Dennis Lillee held the record for longest wicket-taking streak in Tests. He has 41 consecutive innings of taking at least one wicket. 

Lillee finished his career with 355 Test wickets playing 70 matches, including taking a wicket off his final delivery in international cricket. He also has 23 five-wicket hauls and 7 ten-wicket hauls.

2. Waqar Younis | 41 Innings

Waqar Younis jointly holds the record for longest wicket-taking streak in Tests, as the former Pakistan seamer achieved this feat for 41 straight innings. The former right arm fast bowler is widely regarded as one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time.

As of 2012, Younis holds the record for the youngest Pakistani Test captain and the third youngest Test captain in history (22 years 15 days). He played 87 Tests matches for Pakistan during his international cricket career from 1989 to 2003. He has 373 wickets in test cricket with a brilliant average of 23.56. Younis also has 22 five-wicket hauls and 5 ten-wicket hauls to his name.

3. Matt Henry | 38* Innings

New Zealand’s Matt Henry is potentially two Tests and four innings away from an all-time record of Lillee and Younis after the Kiwi speedster struck in his first over of Zimbabwe’s second innings on the third day of the second Test. Henry dismissed opener Brian Bennett for a duck, and that made it the 38th consecutive innings of him taking at least one wicket.

Since the start of 2024, Henry is now taken 64 wickets at an average of 15.96. No bowler who has taken 60+ wickets during this period, not even Jasprit Bumrah, has maintained a better average. January 3, 2021, in Christchurch (second innings) against Pakistan was the last time Henry failed to take a wicket in an innings in Tests.

Also Read: Most Test Centuries in Cricket History

4. Kagiso Rabada | 38 Innings

Proteas pace ace Kagiso Rabada is the most lethal bowler in Test history. He also has 38 consecutive innings of taking at least one wicket. Rabada (39.1) also holds the record for the best SR in Test cricket history among players with more than 150 Test wickets.

In 71 Tests, Rabada managed to take 336 wickets so far with an average of 21.74. He also has 17 five-wicket hauls and four ten-wicket hauls to his name. 

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has officially released the full schedule of Asia Cup 2025. The tournament will start in UAE from 9 September. A total of eight teams will participate in this tournament divided into two groups and 19 matches will be played in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

At the moment, the Indian team management is busy finalizing a squad that has a balance of experience and youthful enthusiasm. The team will not play any cricket for more than a month at the moment. The long and tiring Test series against England ended on Monday. Now the team's next assignment will be Asia Cup 2025. Now it will be interesting to see which players make it to the team for this tournament.

However, there is no official information yet as to when Team India's squad will be announced. But the team's possible playing XI can be something like this.

Also Read: Asia Cup 2025 date announced; BCCI yet to confirm participation against Pakistan

Surya uncertain to command the Team

The command of the Indian team in the Asia Cup can be in the hands of Suryakumar Yadav, although the regular captain of the T20 team Surya is trying to regain fitness after hernia surgery.

He is training at the National Cricket Academy, there is still uncertainty about his availability. If he does not play, then Hardik Pandya could be the biggest contender for captaincy, while Axar Patel could be his deputy.

India's potential batsmen for Asia Cup 2025

Sanju Samson will be the first choice batsman in Team India's batting department. He scored 285 runs in 9 innings this year, averaging 35, and his place in the team is almost certain. His opening partner will be Abhishek Sharma, who recorded a blistering strike rate of 193 in 14 matches in IPL 2025.

Yashasvi Jaiswal can be kept as a reserve opener, who will be fielded in case of injury or need, while Riyan Parag can also definitely find a place in the team. Tilak Verma is also likely to be in the team.

At the same time, Shreyas Iyer scored 604 runs in 17 matches in the IPL and took Punjab Kings to their second final, which has strengthened his claim. At the same time, Tilak Verma is also almost certain to be in the squad and play all the matches, as he scored 343 runs.

Possible options for wicketkeeper and all-rounder

Even though Sanju Samson is present on the wicketkeeper front, Jitesh Sharma's return as the main wicketkeeper is possible, along with him Dhruv Jurel's name can also be in the list. But between Jurel and Jitesh, the RCB wicketkeeper may have the upper hand as he scored 261 runs in the IPL while playing for RCB and has become a contender to be included in the team again due to his excellent performance.

There can also be a place for Ishan Kishan in the team. His return to the Indian senior team has not been possible for a long time. Recently, he must have caught the attention of the management by performing brilliantly in county cricket.

As an all-rounder, Hardik Pandya is a permanent fixture in the team and it is almost impossible to drop him. Along with him, Washington Sundar is also in contention. Washington Sundar may have proved to be a reliable all-rounder for Team India, but he did not get many opportunities in the IPL. Axar Patel will definitely have a place in the team as the vice-captain.

Bowlers who are most likely to be in the team

In bowling, Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakaravarthy are certain to be in the team. Along with them, Harshit Rana can also be seen in the team. The return of Kuldeep Yadav is also almost certain, who did not play a single match on the England tour but his selection in the Asia Cup is considered certain.

If Bumrah and Shami are not in the team, then the fast bowling can be led by Mohammed Siraj, along with whom Prasidh Krishna is also a strong option.

Also Read: BoyCott Asia Cup: India fans rage about India playing cricket against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

Gill's inclusion uncertain

Shubman Gill is in great form and he scored 650 runs in 15 matches in IPL. His bat also spoke loudly on the England tour. Although there is still a lot of time for the Asia Cup, Gill has been out of India's T20 team for a long time. He played his last match against Sri Lanka on 30 July 2024. 

KL Rahul's selection in batting is also uncertain, while Rishabh Pant is on 6 weeks rest after a toe fracture and it is not clear whether he will be fit in time or not. Apart from this, players like Ravi Bishnoi and Rinku Singh may be out of the team due to poor IPL performance. Bishnoi took only 9 wickets in 11 matches, while Rinku Singh scored 206 runs in 13 matches and weakened his chances.

The biggest concern for Team India is in fast bowling, where Jasprit Bumrah may not play in Asia Cup 2025 due to workload management. Mohammed Shami's fitness is also in question as he is still recovering from injury. Nitish Kumar Reddy can also be dropped from the team. He could neither show any magic in IPL nor could he give any impressive performance on the England tour.

India's probable squad for Asia Cup 2025

Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah/Harshit Rana, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jitesh Sharma, Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar.