5 bowlers with most Tests for India

Anil Kumble (L) and Ravichandran Ashwin (R) (Source: AFP)

Producing the competitive bowlers in the challenging arena of Test cricket has always been a ‘puzzle to solve’ for India. In their entire Test history since 1932, India’s concern about shorter Test careers of the bowlers can be underscored by the fact that only six bowlers have played more than 90 Tests. 

It also reflects on their ‘vulnerability to injury’ and on India’s struggle to find the bowlers who can serve for at least a decade. 

Despite that, there have been a few bowlers for India who have been in the action for more than a decade, delivering brilliantly to achieve the different bowling milestones in Tests. Therefore, here’s a look at five bowlers with the most Tests for India. 

Five bowlers with most Tests for India

Anil Kumble - 132 Tests (1990-2008) 

One of the all-time spin greats, Anil Kumble, ended his 18-year-long Test career as the leading wicket-taker for India in Tests, alongside being the fourth leading wicket-taker overall in Test history. The spin magician was also the bowler with the most Test appearances for India. 

He has scalped 619 wickets in 236 innings of 132 Tests, picking 35 five-wicket hauls and eight ‘10-wicket hauls in a match’. Anil Kumble also achieved a historic bowling milestone in his Test career when he became only the second bowler in the history to pick all 10 wickets of the opponent in an innings. The leggie achieved this feat in the Delhi Test against Pakistan in 1999. 

Kapil Dev - 131 Tests (1978-1994) 

Former India skipper, Kapil Dev, was one of the best all-rounders of his era, alongside his contemporaries, including the likes of Ian Botham, Richard Hadlee, and Imran Khan. Kapil had been one of the vital cogs in the wheel for the Indian cricket team in the 80s and early 90s. 

After 31 years since his last Test appearance, Kapil Dev is still the leading wicket-taker for India among pacers in Tests. He scalped 434 wickets in 227 innings of the 131 Tests he played, including 23 five-wicket hauls and two ‘10-wicket hauls in a match’. Besides that, he is second in the list of bowlers with most Tests for India. 

Ravichandran Ashwin - 106 Tests (2011-2024) 

After 13 years of dedication and perseverance for India in Tests, Ravichandran Ashwin’s illustrious career ended abruptly as he announced his retirement in the middle of a Test series against Australia. Nevertheless, the former off-spin great had already done his job for the Indian cricket in his 13 years as a Test cricketer. 

Ashwin ended up as the second leading wicket-taker of all-time in Tests for India, with 537 wickets in 200 innings of 106 Tests he played. Ash scalped 37 five-wicket hauls and eight ‘10-wicket hauls in a match’. He is only behind the former legend Anil Kumble (619 wickets). Ravichandran Ashwin is also the third bowler to play the most number of Tests for India. 

Ishant Sharma - 105 Tests (2007-2021) 

Surviving the injury scares and proving his longevity in Test cricket, the veteran pacer Ishant Sharma had been one of the crucial assets for India in the Tests in his 14 active years from 2007 to his last Test appearance in 2021. The 37-year-old has played 105 matches for India in the longest format of the game. 

In these matches, the Delhi veteran has claimed 311 wickets in 188 innings, with 11 five-wicket hauls and one ‘10-wicket haul in a game’. He also became only the second pacer after Kapil Dev to play more than 100 Tests for India. Ishant ranks fourth in the list of bowlers with most Tests for India. 

Harbhajan Singh - 103 Tests (1998-2015)

Another former off-spin great, Harbhajan Singh, also served the Indian cricket team for 17 years from his debut in 1998 to his last appearance in 2015. The turbanator played a total of 103 Tests, being the fifth bowler to play the highest number of Test matches for India.

The Jalandhar-born off-spin wizard scalped 417 wickets in 190 innings of his 103 Test games, including 25 five-wicket hauls and five ‘10-wicket hauls in a match’.