IND vs NZ: Top 5 wicket-takers from India-New Zealand Tests
India and New Zealand will face each other in a two-match Test series that will commence on 25th November 2021. Over the years, there have been several bowlers who have produced superb performances with the red cherry when these two teams have met in the longest format of the game. In this article, let us take a look at the 5 highest wicket-takers in India-New Zealand Tests.
5) Anil Kumble
The 5th spot in the list is occupied by legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble. The right arm leg spinner played 11 Test matches against New Zealand and scalped 50 wickets at an average of 25.86 and a strike rate of 72.20.
Kumble also scalped 3 five-wicket hauls and a ten-wicket haul against the Black Caps in the whites. Kumble is the highest wicket-taker for the Indian side in Test cricket and has taken 619 wickets in his Test career.
4) Ravichandran Ashwin
At the 4th spot, we have Ravichandran Ashwin. Ashwin has a stellar record with the red cherry in hand against New Zealand. The spinner has prized out 52 batsmen in just 7 Test matches and averages a superb 16.53 against the Kiwis.
The right-arm off-spinner has taken 6 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls against New Zealand in his Test career. Ashwin will be seen in action when India takes on the Kiwis in the first Test on 25th November 2021 and will have a chance to move up in the list.
3) Erapalli Prasanna
Edging past Ashwin and bagging the 3rd spot in the list is Erapalli Prasanna. The right-arm spinner took 55 wickets in 10 matches against the Kiwis and picked up his wickets at an average of 20.12. Prasanna also took 4 five-wicket hauls and a 10-wicket haul against New Zealand in the whites.
In a career that lasted 16 years, Prasanna played 49 Test matches for India and scalped 189 wickets. He has taken 10 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls in his career.
2) Bishan Singh Bedi
Another spin bowling legend, Bishan Singh Bedi bags the 2nd spot. The crafty left-arm spinner boasts of good numbers against New Zealand in Test match cricket. Bedi featured in 12 Tests against the Kiwis and picked up 57 wickets.
While he averaged 19.14 with the ball, Bedi scalped his wickets at a strike rate of 68.1 against New Zealand. Bedi picked up 266 wickets for India in Test cricket. He played his last Test match for his country in the year 1979.
1) Richard Hadlee
New Zealand cricketing icon Richard Hadlee is the highest wicket-taker in Tests played between India and New Zealand. The right-arm pacer played 14 Test matches against India and picked up 65 wickets. While he averaged 22.96, Hadlee took his wickets at a strike rate of 47.70.
Hadlee is the highest wicket-taker for the New Zealand side in Test cricket. In his career that spanned 86 Tests, the legendary cricketer scalped a colossal 431 wickets. Hadlee played his last Test match for New Zealand in the year 1990.
