While India has a long cricket history, we can see many great bowlers in this cricket-passionate nation. As five-wicket hauls show the dominance of a bowler in the innings, we are going through the most Test five-wicket hauls by the Indians.
Although Team India was once
popular for the dominant batting line-up, the talented bowlers have always
played key roles in the nation’s successes. In the modern generation, we can
see the dominance of Indian bowlers that has led to India's regular successes
in overseas tours too.
In this article, we will see the
top five Indian bowlers with the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Most Test five-wicket hauls by Indians (Top 5)
Player | Number of five-wicket
hauls |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 35 |
Anil Kumble | 35 |
Harbhajan Singh | 25 |
Kapil Dev | 23 |
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar | 16 |
(Updated as of February 2024)
Ravichandran Ashwin: 35 times
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is one of the greatest spinners in the modern generation. He has dominated with his spin variations for more than a decade. While Ashwin is dominant and unmatchable in India and Asia, he has gradually improved his performances outside Asia. India’s second-most Test wicket-taker, who has recorded 500+ Test wickets, jointly holds the record for most Test five-wicket hauls by Indians with 35 times.
Anil Kumble: 35 times
Legendary Indian leg-spinner Anil
Kumble was one of the greatest leg-spinners in international cricket history.
While he has many great bowling records, one of his top records is taking all
ten wickets in a Test innings (10/74 against Pakistan in 4th innings at Delhi
in 1999). Kumble is the only Indian bowler to record 600+ Test wickets (619
Test wickets) and the first to record at least 25 Test fifers. Kumble ended his
Test career with 35 five-wicket hauls.
Harbhajan Singh: 25 times
While Anil Kumble was dominating
in the cricket world, off-spinner Harbhajan Singh set up a great memorable
bowling partnership with his senior partner Kumble. Like Kumble, Harbhajan also
had a significant influence in the Indian bowling line-up for a long time.
While the off-spinner managed 417 Test wickets, he recorded 25 Test fifers for
his country.
Kapil Dev: 23 times
The 1983 Cricket World
Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, was one of the greatest all-rounders and Indian
pacers. The right-arm fast-medium was a fearless character who once held the
records for most Test wickets and most ODI wickets. While Kapil took 434 Test wickets
in 131 matches, he recorded 23 times five-wicket hauls in his Test career.
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar: 16 times
When the Indian Test cricket team
shined with spin bowlers from the mid-60s to 70s, the leg-spinner Bhagwath
Chandrasekhar was a key bowler for the nation. Not only in India, but his
incredible magic also dominated the overseas tours as he became one of the
country’s biggest match-winners overseas. Chandrasekhar was popular for his
unplayable deliveries as he ended his Test career with 242 wickets in 58
matches, including 16 Test fifers.
