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

Indian star allrounder Ravindra Jadeja became the fifth bowler with most wickets for India in Test Cricket. He achieved this feat during the first day of the third match between India and New Zealand in Mumbai, overtaking Ishant Sharma’s tally.

Let's see who are the other bowlers with the most wickets for India in Test cricket as the Indian team tries to bounce back in the World Test Championship final race after losing a home series for the first time since 2012.

Most Wickets for India (Test)

Anil Kumble | 619

Anil Kumble picked 619 wickets in 132 Test matches that included 35 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls. Kumble is the fourth-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history and the leader of the list of most wickets for India in Test Cricket.

In 1999, Kumble registered his name into history books as he became just the second bowler to claim 10 Wickets in an inning in a Test after England's Jim Laker.

Kumble made his Test debut against England in 1990. He played a vital role in helping India win Test matches against various opponents both at home and away. He formed a brilliant partnership with Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, collecting a combined 501 wickets in 54 matches, the most by any spin bowling pair.

Ravichandran Ashwin | 533

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently got past former captain Kapil Dev to climb second in the list for most wickets for India in Tests. The legendary bowler became the second Indian cricketer to cross the 450-wicket mark in Tests with Alex Carey's dismissal during the first match of the Bord 2023.

Ashwin also became the highest wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship during the first day of the second India vs New Zealand Test. The 38-year-old all-rounder currently has a tally of 533 wickets from 105* matches in Test at an impressive average of 23.96 and a strike rate of 50.72. 

Kapil Dev | 434

Former India captain Kapil Dev is third on the list of most wickets for India in Tests. The legendary bowler picked 434 wickets in 131 matches at an average of 29.64. The pacer was arguably the first genuine fast-bowler that India produced.

In his 16-year-long test career, Kapil achieved various milestones, one of which was claiming 300 test wickets at a quick rate. The right-arm speedster took 83 tests to achieve this feat. Apart from this, Kapil Dev amassed a total of 5248 runs at an average of 31.05 with eight centuries and 27 fifties to his name.

Harbhajan Singh | 417

Harbhajan Singh also known as the Turbanator, is India's most successful off-spinner to have played Test cricket. He is the first Indian to take a Test hat-trick. He achieved this feat while playing against Australia at Kolkata in March 2001 by dismissing Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Shane Warne.

Harbhajan scalped 417 wickets in 103 Tests at 32.46. He made his debut against Australia in 1998 and played his last test match against Sri Lanka in 2015.

Ravindra Jadeja | 314

Ravindra Jadeja is the 5th-highest wicket-taker for India in the in Test cricket during the first day of the third match between India and New Zealand in Mumbai. He surpassed former India pacers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma (311 scalps each). During the innings, Jadeja also overtook West Indies bowler Lance Gibbs (309) to become the eighth-highest wicket-taker among spinners.

Jadeja also registered his 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, equalling another great Indian left-arm spinner, Bishan Singh Bedi, who had 14 five-fors from 118 innings compared to Jadeja's 145. He has picked 314 wickets so far in 77* matches at an average of 23.96. 

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Most Wickets for India in Test Cricket: