Bowling is often considered as the most thankless job in cricket. In multi-day games, their role becomes even more important as the team cannot win a contest without picking up 20 wickets of the opponents.

It is always challenging for bowlers, both spinners and pacers in Tests and first-class games as they need the physical and mental strength to bowl long spells at the opponent batters to get the better of them.

Irrespective of the conditions, they will have toil hard to get the breakthroughs for their team. Along with fitness, bowlers need to keep a high level of focus and concentration for long hours to reap the benefits of their hard work. Hence, five-wicket hauls are often merited at the same level as a century. 

In that light, it requires an extraordinary effort from a bowler to dismiss all the batters in an innings. As a result, such instances are very rare and are much talked about and celebrated as and when they occur on the cricket field.

In this article, we go through the list of Indian bowlers who have picked up all 10 wickets in an innings in a first-class match. Six Indian bowlers have performed this magic feat in a first-class match with Anil Kumble being the only player to do it at the international level.

Get the list of Indian bowlers who have picked up all 10 wickets in an innings in a first-class match.

Indian bowlers to pick all 10 wickets in an innings in first-class cricket: Get full list

Player	Tournament	Year/Season	Team	Opponent	Figures
Anshul Kamboj	Ranji Trophy	2024-25	Haryana	Kerala	10/49
Debasis Mohanty	Duleep Trophy	2000-01	East Zone	South Zone	10/46
Anil Kumble	-	1999	India	Pakistan	10/74
Pradeep Sunderam	Ranji Trophy	1985-86	Rajasthan	Vidarbha	10/78
Premangsu Chatterjee	Ranji Trophy	1956-57	Bengal	Assam	10/20
Subhash Gupte	-	1954-55	Bombay	Pakistan Services and Bahawalpur CC	10/78

Anshul Kamboj | 10/49 vs Kerala

Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj became only the sixth Indian bowler to pick up all ten wickets in an innings of a first-class match with his 10/49 against Kerala during the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 campaign in November 2024.

Bowling first at the CH Bansi Lal Cricket Stadium in Rohtak, the Haryana pacer made full use of the swinging conditions to dismiss all the Kerala batters in the first innings with the score reading 291.

Though Kamboj became only the third bowler to perform the magic feat in the Ranji Trophy, Haryana could not seize the advantage as the match ended in a draw with Kerala getting the first-innings lead.

Debasis Mohanty | 10/46 vs South Zone

Debasis Mohanty was the fifth Indian bowler, the only bowler in the Duleep Trophy, to pick up all ten wickets in an innings in a first-class match.

Playing for East Zone, the medium pacer recorded impressive figures of 10/46 against South Zone in the first innings of a Duleep Trophy match at the Maharaja Bir Bikram College Stadium in Agartala in January 2001.

It was a dream spell for Mohanty as he raced through a star-studded South Zone batting line-up which included Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, all-rounders Sridharan Sriram and Sunil Joshi. He picked up four more wickets in the second innings and powered East Zone to a four-wicket win in the contest.

Anil Kumble | 10/74 vs Pakistan

Anil Kumble became the first Indian bowler, the second in international cricket, to dismiss all the batters in an innings in Test cricket when he picked up 10/74 against arch-rivals Pakistan at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi in February 1999.

Chasing 420 for a win, Pakistan were cruising at one stage with the openers putting on a century partnership. From then on, it was all Anil Kumble as Pakistan slid from 101/0 to 207 all out.

The leg-spinner bowled one of the most memorable spells Indian cricket has ever seen to power the home side to a 212-run win on day four. India levelled the two-match series, on the back of Kumble’s heroics, after going down to Pakistan in the first Test in Chennai.

Photo credit: Imago

The MA Chidambaram Stadium is an iconic cricket ground located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

Popularly known as the Chepauk Stadium, the MA Chidambaram Stadium was established in 1916. It is India’s second oldest cricket stadium after Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Owned and operated by Tamil Nadu Cricket Association (TNCA), the stadium is located at Chepauk, a few hundred metres from Marina beach along the Bay of Bengal.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium is named after Muthiah Annamalai Chidambaram, the former president of BCCI and Head of TNCA. It was formerly named as Madras Cricket Club Ground.

It is the home ground of the Tamil Nadu cricket team in domestic cricket and Team Chennai in the Indian T20 League.

The MA Chidambaram Stadium staged its first international match, a Test played between Douglas Jardine's England and CK Nayudu's India in February 1934. England won the Test by 202 runs.

Since then, it has hosted more than 35 Test matches so far. It has also staged several ODIs and T20 internationals in men’s cricket.

Let’s have a look at the MA Chidambaram Stadium Test records and stats:

MA Chidambaram Stadium Test records and stats

Highest total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. During the fifth Test of England’s tour of India in December 2016, the Virat Kohli-led hosts posted a mammoth 759/7d after bowling out England for 477. Karun Nair’s unbeaten triple century (303 not out), KL Rahul’s 199 and fifties from Parthiv Patel (71), Ravichandran Ashwin (67) and Ravindra Jadeja (51) powered India to a record Test total at the venue. England were later bundled out for 207 in their second innings as India won the Chennai Test by an innings and 75 runs.

Lowest total

India have also registered the lowest total at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. Chasing 284 in the fourth innings, the Bishan Bedi-led side was skittled out for 83 in the third Test of England’s tour of India in January 1977. Sunil Gavaskar top-scored for India with 24 while Mohinder Amarnath scored 12. For England, left-arm spinner Derek Underwood was the wrecker-in-chief with four wickets while fast bowler Bob Willis picked up three scalps. Earlier, India could only manage 164 in their first innings after England posted 262. The visitors later scored 185/9d in their second innings to set-up a target of 284. 

Most runs

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar scored the most runs at this ground in cricket’s longest format in Chennai. Between 1973 and 1987, the legendary batter accumulated 1,018 runs in 12 Tests at an average of 59.88, including three centuries and just as many fifties at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in red-ball cricket. Another Indian batting great, Sachin Tendulkar, features second on the list with 970 runs in 10 matches at an impressive average of 88.18 between 1993 and 2013. He slammed five hundreds and two fifties at this venue in Tests. 

Most wickets

Legendary India cricketer Anil Kumble claimed the most wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. The former leg-spinner bagged 48 Test wickets in just eight matches between 1993 and 2008 at an average of 19.56. Kumble took five five-wicket hauls at this iconic venue in cricket’s longest format. His best bowling figures (7/48) at this ground in Tests came against Australia in October 2004. His former teammate Harbhajan Singh is second on the list with 42 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 28.04.

Highest individual score

Former Indian opening batter Virender Sehwag registered the highest individual score at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in the Test format. Opening the innings alongside Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag slammed 319 off just 304 balls against South Africa in March 2008. Sehwag's magnificent triple century was laced with 42 fours and five maximums in Chennai. After South Africa posted 540, India recorded 627 in their first innings courtesy Sehwag’s triple hundred. The visitors declared their second innings at 331/5 as the first Test of a three-match series ended in a draw.

Best bowling figures in an innings

Former India all-rounder Vinoo Mankad recorded the best bowling figures in an innings of a Test at this venue in 1952. The former left-arm spinner registered match-winning figures of 8/55 to help restrict England for 266 in their first innings. Vinoo Mankad dismissed Tom Graveney, Jack Robertson, Allan Watkins, Cyril Poole, captain Donald Carr, Malcolm Hilton, Brian Statham and Fred Ridgway. Mankad also picked up four wickets in the second innings as India won the Test by an innings and eight runs in Chennai.

Best bowling figures in a match

India’s Narendra Hirwani holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The former India leg-spinner took 16 wickets during the fourth Test of West Indies�?tour of India in 1988. While Hirwani scalped eight wickets for 61 runs in the first innings, he bagged eight wickets for 75 runs in the second innings. Hirwani’s incredible bowling performance helped India win the Test by a massive 255 runs.

Highest partnership

Former Indian cricketers Gundappa Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma recorded the highest partnership at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Test cricket. During the fifth Test of England’s tour of India in 1982, Gundappa Viswanath and Yashpal Sharma forged a massive 316-run stand for the third wicket in their first innings. Viswanath slammed 222 while Sharma scored 140. The match later ended in a draw in Chennai.

Photo credit: Imago

Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble has picked the most wickets for India across formats in international cricket.

Having made his international debut against England in a Test match in 1990, Kumble went on to claim 953 wickets for India in 401 matches at an average of 30.06.

The Bangalore-born cricketer ended his career with 619 Test wickets in 132 matches at an average of 29.65. He picked 35 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls. 

Kumble also played 269 One-Day International (ODI) matches between 1990 and 2007, bagging 334 wickets at an average of ​�?/span>30.83.

Among active players, Ravichandran Ashwin has the most wickets for India across formats. Ashwin features second on the list as he has scalped 744 wickets in 281 matches so far. The second-highest wicket-taker for India Tests, Ashwin has so far tallied 516 scalps in 100 Tests followed by 156 wickets in ODIs and 72 wickets in the T20Is.

Former spinner Harbhajan Singh is third on the list of most wickets for India across formats. The quality off-spinner picked 707 wickets in 365 matches at an average of 32.59.

Harbhajan made his Test debut against Australia in 1998 and ended his career with 417 wickets in 103 matches in the longest format.  

Fondly known as ‘The Turbantor�? Harbhajan also featured in 234 ODIs, claiming 265 wickets at an average of 33.47.

Former fast bowler Kapil Dev and seamer Zaheer Khan complete the top five list of most wickets for India across formats.

The 1983 World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, picked 687 wickets for India in 356 matches. An impressive 434 of those 687 wickets came in the longest format while 253 were picked in ODI cricket.

On the other hand, the 2011 World Cup winner Zaheer Khan bagged 597 wickets in 303 matches.

Most wickets for India across formats

Player	Test wickets	ODI wickets	T20I wickets	Total wickets
Anil Kumble	619	334	-	953
Ravichandran Ashwin	516	156	72	735
Harbhajan Singh	417	265	25	707
Kapil Dev	434	253	-	687
Zaheer Khan	311	269	17	597
Ravindra Jadeja	292	220	53	565
Javagal Srinath	236	315	-	551
Mohammed Shami	229	195	24	448
Ishant Sharma	311	115	8	434
Jasprit Bumrah	157	149	74	378

Featured photo: LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP

Former leg-spinner Anil Kumble holds the record for the most Test wickets for India.

The Karnataka-born cricketer 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.

In 1999, he etched his name into history books as he became just the second bowler to claim 10 wickets in an innings in a Test after England’s Jim Laker.

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

Kumble played his last Test match against Australia at Feroz Shah Kotla in 2008.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin features second on the list for most wickets for India in Tests. Ashwin overtook former captain Kapil Dev to climb second in the list for most wickets for India in Tests. The legendary bowler became the second Indian bowler to bag 500 wickets in Test cricket. He achieved the incredible feat during the third Test of England's tour of India 2024 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

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Only the second #TeamIndia cricketer to reach this landmark in Tests

Congratulations, @ashwinravi99 #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/bP8wUs6rd0

�?BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024

Former India captain Kapil Dev is third-highest Test wicket-taker for India. The right-arm fast bowler picked 434 wickets in 131 matches at an average of 29.64.

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh and seamer Ishant Sharma complete the top five list of most wickets for India in Tests.

While Harbhajan Singh has claimed 417 wickets in 103 matches. seamer Ishant Sharma has scalped 311 wickets in 105 matches.

Most Test wickets for India: Know the Top 10

Player	Matches	Wickets
Anil Kumble	132	619
Ravichandran Ashwin	100	516
Kapil Dev	131	434
Harbhajan Singh	103	417
Ishant Sharma	105	311
Zaheer Khan	92	311
Ravindra Jadeja	71	292
Bishan Bedi	67	266
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar	58	242
Javagal Srinath	67	236

Featured photo: INDRANIL MUKHERJEE / AFP

The India vs South Africa rivalry is one of the most captivating contests in Test cricket. 

India and South Africa played their first Test match against each other in November 1992. Led by captain Mohammad Azharuddin, the Indian cricket team first toured South Africa for a four-match series. The hosts were captained by Kepler Wessels. South Africa clinched the four-match Test series 1-0.

In November 1996, the Hansie Cronje-led South Africa cricket team travelled to India for their first Test series. Under the leadership of Sachin Tendulkar, the hosts bagged the three-match Test series 2-1.

Since then, India and South Africa have faced each other in 43 Tests so far. The Proteas have won 18 of those Tests, while India have secured 15 victories. As many as 10 matches have ended in draws.

Both sides have registered numerous records during their epic battles in cricket’s longest format and here we take a closer look at some of those India vs South Africa Test records and stats.

India vs South Africa Test records and stats

Highest team total

The Indian cricket team holds the record for the highest team total in India vs South Africa Tests. During the second Test of South Africa’s tour of India in 2010, the hosts recorded a massive total of 643/6d in their first innings at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After bowling out South Africa for 296 in their first innings, the MS Dhoni-led India rode on centuries from Virender Sehwag (165), VVS Laxman (143 not out), MS Dhoni (132 not out) and Sachin Tendulkar (106) to post a mammoth total on the board. India then bowled out the visitors for 290 in the second innings to win the Test by an innings and 57 runs.

Lowest team total

The South Africa cricket team registered the lowest team total in this Test fixture. The Dean Elgar-led hosts were bowled out for 55 during the first innings of the second Test against India in Cape Town in 2024. Electing to bat first, South Africa lost wickets at regular intervals to record their lowest-ever Test total against India. Wicketkeeper-batter Kyle Verreynne was the top-scorer for the Proteas with 15. For India, pacer Mohammed Siraj was the wrecker-in-chief, having bagged six wickets for just 15 runs.

Most runs

Legendary batter Sachin Tendulkar has scored the most runs in India vs South Africa Tests. Between 1992 and 2011, the right-handed batter amassed 1,741 runs in 25 matches at an average of 42.46. 

Tendulkar slammed seven hundreds and five fifties versus South Africa in his illustrious Test career. His highest score of 169 against the Proteas came during the second Test in Cape Town in 1997. Meanwhile, Jacques Kallis is the highest run-scorer for South Africa, having scored 1,734 runs in 18 Tests at an average of 69.36 against India.

Most wickets

Former India captain Anil Kumble has picked up the most wickets in this Test fixture. The former leg spinner bagged 84 wickets in 21 matches at an average of 31.79 against South Africa between 1992 and 2008. 

Kumble scalped three four-wicket hauls and as many fifers against the Proteas in Test cricket. For South Africa, Dale Steyn is the top wicket-taker in this fixture with 66 wickets in just 14 Tests at an average of 21.53.

Highest individual score

Former swashbuckling opening batter Virender Sehwag holds the record for the highest individual score in India vs South Africa Tests. Sehwag scored 319 off just 304 balls during the first Test of South Africa’s tour of India at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in 2008. 

Sehwag’s triple ton was laced with 42 fours and five sixes. The knock helped India post 627 in their first innings after bowling out the Proteas for 540. While South Africa scored 331/5d in their second innings, the match ended in a draw.

Best bowling figures

Lance Klusener registered the best bowling figures in an innings in India vs South Africa Tests. The former all-rounder finished with figures of 8/64 during the fourth innings of the second Test of South Africa’s tour of India in 1996. Klusener’s sensational spell powered South Africa to a 329-run victory at the Eden Gardens. 

Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record for the best bowling figures in a Test match in this fixture. The India off-spinner scalped 12 wickets in the Nagpur Test during South Africa’s tour of India in 2015. India won the third Test of the series by 124 runs.

Highest partnership

Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis hold the record for the highest partnership in India vs South Africa Tests. The South African duo stitched a 340-run stand for the third wicket against India in their first innings of the Nagpur Test in 2010. 

Hashim Amla remained unbeaten on 253 while Jacques Kallis was dismissed for 173. The incredible partnership helped South Africa post 558/6d in their first innings. India were bowled out for 233 and 319 in their two innings as they lost the Test by an innings and six runs.

Photo credit: Alamy

During ICC World Cup 2023, right-arm fast bowler Mohammed Shami scripted history to become the record holder for the most wickets for India in ODI World Cup.

Since making his ODI World Cup debut in 2015, Mohammed Shami has picked 55 wickets in just 18 matches.

The previous record for the most wickets for India in ODI World Cup history was held by former left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan. He took 44 wickets in 23 matches.

Shami surpassed Zaheer Khan during Indian cricket team’s ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

With 55 wickets to his name, Shami also entered in the top 10 list of most wickets in ICC World Cup.

Among active cricketers, only Australia’s Mitchell Starc (59) and New Zealand’s Trent Boult (49) are above Shami in the list.

The likes of Javagal Srinath, Jasprit Bumrah and Anil Kumble feature in the top five list of most wickets for India in ODI World Cup.

Most wickets for India in ODI World Cup

Player	Span	Matches	Wickets
Mohammed Shami	2015-2023	18	55
Zaheer Khan	2003-2011	23	44
Javagal Srinath	1992-2003	34	44
Jasprit Bumrah	2019-2023	20	38
Anil Kumble	1996-2007	18	31
Kapil Dev	1979-1992	26	28
Ravindra Jadeja	2015-2023	21	27
Manoj Prabhakar	1987-1996	19	24
Madan Lal	1975-1983	11	22
Yuvraj Singh	2003-2011	23	20

Mohammed Shami | 55 wickets in 18 matches

Pacer Mohammed Shami holds the record for the most wickets for India in ODI World Cup. Having played in three editions of the ODI World Cup in 2015, 2019 and 2023, Shami has already claimed 55 wickets in 18 matches at an average of 13.52 and an economy of 5.13. The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer has four five-wicket hauls to his name in the marquee 50-over tournament’s history.

Zaheer Khan | 44 wickets in 23 matches

Former left-arm fast bowler Zaheer Khan is second on the list for most wickets for India in ODI World Cup. Between 2003 and 2011, Zaheer Khan bagged 44 wickets in 23 matches at an average of 20.22 and an economy of 4.47. He was the joint-highest wicket-taker in 2011 ODI World Cup with 21 wickets in nine matches. Zaheer’s scintillating performance helped guide India to the ICC World Cup 2011 title. 

Javagal Srinath | 44 wickets in 34 matches

Javagal Srinath features third on the list for most wickets for India in ODI World Cup. After making his ODI World Cup debut in 1992, the right-arm pacer finished his illustrious career with 44 ODI World Cup wickets in 34 matches at an average of 27.81 and an economy of 4.32. He scalped two four-wicket hauls in the ICC ODI World Cups. He was part of the Indian team that reached the final of the ICC World Cup 2003 in South Africa.

Photo Credit: Alamy

Former Sri Lanka spinner Muthiah Muralidaran holds the record for most wickets in Test cricket. During his career that spanned from 1992 to 2010, the legendary off-break bowler scalped 800 wickets in 133 Test matches at an average of 22.72.

Muralidaran is only one of two bowlers to have breached the 700-wicket mark in cricket’s longest format, with the other being Australia’s Shane Warne, who has 708 Test wickets to his name.

Among the nine teams Muralidaran has faced in his Test career, England have been his favourite victim, with the spinner picking 112 wickets at an average of 20.06 against them. Next up for him are India with 105 wickets against them at an average of 32.62 followed by South Africa with 104 wickets against the Proteas at an average of 22.22. It is only against these three teams that the spinner has picked more than 100 wickets.

Meanwhile, as far as batters are concerned, Mark Boucher has been dismissed more times (12) by Muralidaran than any other player. Zimbabwe’s Grant Flower who was dismissed 10 times by Murali follows the South African while Waqar Younis, Mohammad Yousuf and Khaled Mashud were also dismissed by the Sri Lankan legend nine times each.

Muralidaran, who also holds the record for the most player of the series awards in Test cricket (11), registered his best bowling figures against Zimbabwe in 2002, ending with figures of 9/51 in one innings. The spinner took 13 wickets in that match.

Furthermore, while Muralidaran and Shane Warne are the only bowlers to have scalped more than 700 wickets in the longest format, James Anderson sits third on this list with 689 wickets in 182 matches. The England pacer has registered 32 five-wicket hauls during his Test career, with his best bowling figures - 7/42 - coming against West Indies in 2017. 

Former India spinner Anil Kumble, who has bagged the most Test wickets for India, sits fourth on the list with 619 wickets followed by England’s Stuart Broad (600 wickets) in the fifth spot.

Most wickets in Test cricket

Player	Team	Span	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Best figure
Muthiah Muralidaran	Sri Lanka	1992-2010	133	230	800	9/51
Shane Warne	Australia	1992-2007	145	273	708	8/71
James Anderson	England	2003-2023	182	338	689	7/42
Anil Kumble	India	1990-2008	132	236	619	10/74
Stuart Broad	England	2007-2023	166	306	600	8/15

Featured photo: AFP / Lakruwan Wanniarachchi

Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble holds the record for the most five wicket-hauls for India in Test cricket.

Having made his Test debut against England in 1990, Kumble became the most successful Indian bowler of all time and the fourth-highest wicket-taker in international cricket.

Between 1990 and 2008, Kumble picked up 35 five-wicket hauls - the most by any Indian bowler in Test cricket.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is second on the list for most five wicket-hauls for India in Test cricket. He has already taken 34 fifers in cricket’s longest format. Know players with most five wicket-hauls for India in Test cricket.

Most five-wicket hauls for India in Test cricket

Player	Span	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Average	Five-wicket hauls
Anil Kumble	1990-2008	132	236	619	29.65	35
Ravichandran Ashwin	2011-2023	93	176	486	23.61	34
Harbhajan Singh	1998-2015	103	190	417	32.46	25
Kapil Dev	1978-1994	131	227	434	29.64	23
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar	1964-1979	58	97	242	29.74	16

Anil Kumble | 35 fifers in 132 Tests

No bowler has won India more Test matches than the legendary Anil Kumble. Regarded as one of the greatest leg-spinners in Test cricket history, Kumble recorded 35 five-wicket hauls to his name. Only Muttiah Muralitharan (67), Shane Warne (37) and Richard Hadlee (36) finished their career with more five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. In his 18-year-long career, Kumble picked up 619 wickets in 132 Tests at an average of 29.65. 

Ravichandran Ashwin | 34 fifers in 93 Tests

Ravichandran Ashwin has been India’s biggest match-winner with the ball in Test cricket since making his debut against West Indies in 2011. The off-spinner has already registered 34 five-wicket hauls in the longest format of the game. Ashwin is currently India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 486 dismissals in just 93 matches at an impressive average of 23.61. 

 

 

Harbhajan Singh | 25 fifers in 103 Tests

Former cricketer Harbhajan Singh has the third-most five wicket-hauls for India in Test cricket. The right-arm off-spinner bagged 25 five-wicket hauls in 103 Tests. Having made his Test debut against Australia in 1998, Harbhajan finished his Test career with 417 wickets at an average of 32.46.

Kapil Dev | 23 fifers in 131 Tests

Former India captain Kapil Dev is fourth on the list for the five wicket-hauls for India in Test cricket. Between 1978 and 1994, Kapil Dev claimed 23 five-wicket hauls in 131 Tests for the Indian cricket team. He finished his legendary career with 434 Test wickets at an average of 29.64.

Bhagwath Chandrasekhar | 16 fifers in 58 Tests

Former leg-spinner Bhagwath Chandrasekhar completes the top five list for most five wicket-hauls for India in Test cricket. Considered to be one of India’s biggest match-winners overseas in the 1960s and 70s, Chandrasekhar picked up 16 fifers in 58 Tests. He ended his career with 242 Test wickets at an average of 29.74.

Photo credit: Alamy

Former Sri Lanka spinner Muthiah Muralidaran has claimed the most wickets in international cricket.

Having made his international debut against Australia in a Test match in 1992, Muralidaran ended his career as the all-time highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 1347 scalps in 495 matches at an average of 22.86. He recorded 77 five-wicket hauls and 22 10-wicket hauls in his international career.

Considered to be one of the greatest bowlers to have played the sport, Muralidaran bagged 800 Test wickets in 133 matches at an average of 22.72 - the most by any bowler in the longest format of the game.

Muralidaran also holds the record for picking the most wickets in the ODI format, bagging 534 wickets in 350 matches at an impressive average of 23.08 and an economy of 3.93. 

The legendary off-spinner also played 12 T20Is, claiming 13 wickets at an economy of 6.31.

Muralitharan made his last international appearance in the 2011 World Cup final against India in Mumbai, which Sri Lanka lost by six wickets.

Australian legend Shane Warne features second on the list for most wickets in international cricket. During his international career, the leg-spinner picked 1001 wickets in 339 matches at an average of 25.51 including 38 five-wicket hauls and 10 10-wicket hauls.

Between 1992 and 2007, Warne bagged 708 Test wickets in 145 matches and 293 ODI wickets in 194 matches. 

England pacer James Anderson is third on the list for most wickets in international cricket. Anderson has bagged 975 wickets in 394 matches at an average of 27.12 with 34 five-wicket hauls and three 10-wicket hauls.

Former India spinner Anil Kumble and ex-Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath complete the top five list for most wickets in international cricket.

While Kumble picked 956 wickets in 403 matches, McGrath picked up 949 wickets in 376 matches. Currently, Anderson has the most wickets in international cricket among active players.

Most wickets in international cricket

Player	Span	Matches	Wickets	Average	Economy	5w	10w
Muthiah Muralidaran	1992-2011	495	1347	22.86	2.92	77	22
Shane Warne	1992-2007	339	1001	25.51	2.98	38	10
James Anderson	2002-2023	394	975	27.12	3.25	34	3
Anil Kumble	1990-2008	403	956	30.09	3.11	37	8
Glenn McGrath	1993-2007	376	949	21.76	2.93	36	3
Wasim Akram	1984-2003	460	916	23.57	3.17	31	5
Stuart Broad	2006-2022	342	841	27.76	3.45	21	3
Shaun Pollock	1995-2008	423	829	23.73	2.92	21	1
Waqar Younis	1989-2003	349	789	23.70	3.88	35	5
Chaminda Vaas	1994-2009	439	761	28.44	3.30	16	2

Featured photo: SANKA VIDANAGAMA / AFP

Jasprit Bumrah’s 6/19 against England at the Oval is the best bowling figures in ODI by an Indian in England.

With India opting to bowl first, Bumrah made the best of the pitch conditions available as he dismissed Jason Roy, Joe Root and Liam Livingstone for ducks in his 7.2 overs. His other victims included Jonny Bairstow (7), David Willey (21) and Brydon Carse (15).

Bumrah’s haul of 6/19 is the fourth-best ODI figures in England, after Waqar Younis (7/36, 2001), Winston Davis (7/51, 1983) and Gary Gilmour (6/14, 1975)

Overall, it stands as the third-best bowling figures in ODI by an Indian bowler.

Stuart Binny owns the record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in ODI cricket, having scalped six wickets for just four runs against Bangladesh in 2014. With India posting 105 in 25.3 overs, Binny grabbed six wickets in just 28 deliveries in a rain-marred fixture at Mirpur.

Anil Kumble’s 6/12 against West Indies in 1993 is the best bowling figures in ODI by an Indian spinner. The legendary spinner registered an economy rate of 1.94 in his spell of 6.1 overs as he led India to win the C.A.B. Jubilee Tournament that featured South Africa, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe besides finalists India and the West Indies.

So far, 10 Indians have picked up six wickets in an innings on 11 occasions. Ashish Nehra is the only one to do it twice (6/23 vs England in 2003 and 6/59 vs Sri Lanka in 2005). Kumble was the first Indian to pick up a six-fer in 1993 while Ajit Agarkar was the first Indian pacer to do so in 2004 (6/42 vs Australia).

Bumrah’s 6/19 is the best ODI figures by an Indian against England since Ashish Nehra’s 6/23 at the 2003 Cricket World Cup.

With England chasing a 251-run target set by Sourav Ganguly’s India, Nehra grabbed the important wickets of Michael Vaughan, Nasser Hussain and Paul Collingwood to become just the third Indian bowler after Jawagal Srinath (5/41) and Harbhajan Singh (5/43) to take five or more wickets in an ODI match against England.

Kuldeep Yadav matched Ashish Nehra and Sreesanth’s haul of six wickets against England with his return of 6/25 in the 2018 ODI at Nottingham.

Kuldeep, who was playing his first 50-overs match on English soil, came in to bowl with England at 71 for 0 in 10 overs. In his first two overs, the spinner reduced the hosts to 82/3 as he grabbed the prized scalps of Jason Roy (10.2 overs) Joe Root (12.1 overs) and Jonny Bairstow (12.5 overs).

After going wicketless in his next five overs, Kuldeep Yadav would bag the wicket of Jos Buttler in his eighth over and his fifth and sixth wicket in the final over of his spell.

Best bowling figures in ODIs by an Indian

Bowler	Bowling Figures	Opponent	Venue	Year
Stuart Binny	6/4	Bangladesh	Mirpur	2014
Anil Kumble	6/12	West Indies	Kolkata	1993
Jasprit Bumrah	6/19	England	London	2022
Ashish Nehra	6/23	England	Durban	2003
Kuldeep Yadav	6/25	England	Nottingham	2018

Author: William Paul

Featured photo: AFP / IAN KINGTON