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.
𝗠𝘁. 𝟱𝟬𝟬! 🫡 🫡
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024
Only the second #TeamIndia cricketer to reach this landmark in Tests 🙌 🙌
Congratulations, @ashwinravi99 👏 👏#INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/bP8wUs6rd0
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