Most five-fors for India in Tests
Over the years, India have shown extreme grit and determination to improve their red-ball cricket and the result is there for everyone to see. Under the able leadership of Sourav Ganguly, team India learned to challenge top-tier teams and even beat them occasionally while under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, the team proved to be the best in the world on quite a few occasions.
Whether it’s Ganguly, Dhoni, Kohli, or Rohit Sharma, every Indian captain has backed the bowlers to deliver match-winning performances. The bowlers must consistently take 20 wickets for the team to become a world-beating side. Thankfully, India has had numerous players over the years who have helped the team achieve many great victories.
But which are the bowlers who have proved themselves time and again in Test cricket for India? Here’s a list of three players with the most five-fors for India in the longest format of the game –
3. Harbhajan Singh
Hailing from Punjab, Harbhajan made his Test debut against Australia on March 25, 1998. He picked up two wickets on his debut match and added 415 more wickets to his name. He was India’s wrecker-in-chief for more than a decade and picked up 25 five-fors in the meantime. ‘Bhajji’, as he is popularly known, played 103 Test matches for India and also holds the record of being the 9th fastest bowler to clinch 400 Test wickets.
2. Ravichandran Ashwin
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is second on the list with 31 five-fors to his name in Test cricket. Overall, in his 12 years of Test career, the 36-year-old has played 90 matches and has picked up 463 wickets. He currently is the No. 1 ranked all-rounder in the world. Ashwin is one of the craftiest spin bowlers India has ever produced.
1. Anil Kumble
Former India skipper Anil Kumble played 132 matches in the longest format of the game and picked up 619 wickets – the most by any Indian bowler in Test cricket. The 52-year-old also holds the record for most five-fors (35) for India in red-ball cricket. He has been tremendously successful and is one of the reasons behind India’s growth in Test cricket.
