Test Cricket has witnessed some incredible bowling over the years. Taking five wickets as a bowler, results in a morale boost overall in a team. It also proves how good a bowler is. It is an achievement, showing consistency, skill, and ability in bowlers. There have been many Indian bowlers who have taken five wickets in an inning. In this article, we talk about the Top 10 Indian Bowlers with the Most 5-Wicket Hauls in Tests.
1. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble is first on our list because he is the most wicket-taking bowler in Tests. Kumble has an impressive record when it comes to fifers. He has over 600 test wickets, picking up 35 five-wicket hauls. His best bowling figure is 10/74 against Pakistan, where he picked all ten wickets in an inning.
2. Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin, or Ash is a very seasoned spinner, with a stellar record in Test Cricket. He November of 2011, he made his debut against West Indies, winning the MOTM award after taking nine wickets. Ashwin has 474 wickets in his test career at an average of 23.93 with 32 times five-wicket hauls. His best bowling figures were 7/59 against New Zealand in 2016. He is currently ranked No.1 among test bowlers.
3. Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev, world cup winning-captain and a great all-rounder has a decent record in test bowling. Kapil has taken over 400 wickets, with 23 fifers in his Test Cricket career at an average of 29.64. His best bowling stat was 9/83 against West Indies in 1983. Kapil Dev was a decent medium-pace bowler and batter who gave his best for his team.
4. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh, known as Bhajji, is a beast in Test Cricket. He is one of India’s finest spinners with a decent track record away from home. He has 417 wickets at an average of 32.46. He has 25 five-wicket hauls, his best bowling coming in the 2001 series against Australia.
5. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja is a great good all-rounder for India in all formats. He is ranked No.2 in test all-rounders in international cricket. He has 12 five-wicket hauls in test cricket, his best being 7/48 against England in 2016. He is a vital player in the Test lineup as he is a very attacking bowler and aggressive batter.
6. Ishant Sharma
Ishant Sharma is a pace bowler who can swing the ball both ways. He is a very successful bowler who excels with both pace and accuracy. He is most famous for the Perth Test in 2008. He is currently ranked 12th among Test Bowlers. He has 11 five-wicket hauls at an average of 32.41. His best bowling came against West Indies in 2011, as he took 7/74.
7. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan is a great bowler known for swinging the ball outwards. He is an attack-minded bowler who always looks to put pressure on the batsman by making the ball turn in the moment as the ball is released. He has taken 311 wickets in Tests, his best bowling figure being 7/87 against Bangladesh in 2010. He is known for the Johannesburg Test of 2006.
8. Javagal Srinath
Srinath was once an excellent pace bowler, leading the pace attack of India from 1996 onwards. Srinath can generate extreme pace and bounce on any pitch, leading him to become the seventh-fastest bowler to pick 200 Test wickets. Srinath has ten five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. Srinath’s best bowling was in the Kolkata Test, 1999 where he picked 8 wickets, conceding 86 runs.
9. Mohammad Shami
Mohammad Shami is a vital bowler in the Indian squad. Known for his swing and pace, he has a very successful career in Test Cricket particularly on home tracks. Shami has a strong presence in the Indian pace quartet currently and is India’s fastest bowler to reach 100 Test Wickets. He has 235 wickets in Tests, with six five-wicket hauls. Mohammad Shami is remembered for his match-saving bowling against England in 2018 where he took 18 wickets in the four matches played.
10. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is widely known for his bowling action, but many underestimate his impact on the team; Bumrah has a pretty good record in Tests. We know Bumrah for his bowling against Australia in 2018, where he troubled both openers Travis Head and Shaun Marsh. Bumrah has 128 Test Wickets and picked up eight five-wicket hauls.
