Over the years, India has established itself as a batting powerhouse and has produced many legendary batters. But since the turn of this century, many bowlers have left an indelible mark on Indian cricket history.
Bowlers like Kapil Dev, Bishan Singh Bedi, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravichandran Ashwin brought a revolution to the bowling department. And now , Mohammed Shami, Ravindra Jadeja, and Jasprit Bumrah are carrying forward their legacy.
The following key statistics illuminate the dominant bowling records for India across Test, ODI, and T20I cricket, focusing on individual milestones and format-specific achievements.
Most Wickets for India in All Formats
| Player | Total Matches | Total Wickets | Test Wickets | ODI Wickets | T20I Wickets | Total Average | Total 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling Figures (Format) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Kumble | 401 | 953 | 619 | 334 | – | 30.06 | 37 | 10/74 (Test) |
| Ravichandran Ashwin | 287 | 765 | 537 | 156 | 72 | 25.80 | 37 | 7/59 (Test) |
| Harbhajan Singh | 365 | 707 | 417 | 265 | 25 | 32.59 | 28 | 8/84 (Test) |
| Kapil Dev | 356 | 687 | 434 | 253 | – | 28.83 | 24 | 9/83 (Test) |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 366 | 623 | 338 | 231 | 54 | 29.41 | 17 | 7/42 (Test) |
| Zaheer Khan | 303 | 597 | 311 | 269 | 17 | 31.48 | 12 | 7/87 (Test) |
| Javagal Srinath | 296 | 551 | 236 | 315 | – | 29.11 | 13 | 8/86 (Test) |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 220 | 480 | 232 | 149 | 99 | 20.49 | 18 | 6/19 (ODI) |
| Mohammed Shami | 197 | 462 | 229 | 206 | 27 | 26.10 | 12 | 7/57 (ODI) |
| Ishant Sharma | 199 | 434 | 311 | 115 | 8 | 32.35 | 11 | 7/74 (Test) |
Explore More “Indian Bowling” Records
Most Wickets in Tests for India
Most Wickets in T20Is for India
Most ODI Wickets for India in a Calendar Year
Most Test Wickets for India in a Calendar Year
Most T20I Wickets for India in a Calendar Year
Most Wickets across All Formats for India
Most ODI 5-Wicket Hauls for India
Most Test 5-Wicket Hauls for India
Most Test 10-Wickets Hauls for India
Best ODI Bowling Figures for India
Best Test Bowling Figures for India
Best T20I Bowling Figures for India
Key Insights on Leading Wicket Takers for India Across Formats
All-Time Wicket Tally and Format-Specific Leaders
Anil Kumble, the legendary leg spinner, has scalped the most wickets for India across all formats with 953 wickets under his belt, comprising 619 Test wickets and 334 ODI wickets. Find out who holds the overall record among all teams in all formats combined.
Moreover, Kumble is the leading wicket-taker for India in both Tests and ODIs.
Over 45 bowlers have bagged 100-plus wickets for India in all 3 formats of the game combined.
Elite Multiple Five and Ten-Wicket Hauls
Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin are the only 2 Indian bowlers who have picked up 30 or more 5-wicket hauls and 8 or more 10-wicket hauls.
Both have achieved this feat in the longer format, Test cricket. Both of them are also on the global list of bowlers with the same milestone.
Captaincy and Best Individual Bowling Performances
The number of wickets taken by former captain Kapil Dev in Tests and ODIs, while leading the side, is 202. This is the highest number of wickets picked by an Indian captain in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is combined.
10/74 is the best bowling performance by an Indian bowler in any format of international cricket – delivered by none other than Anil Kumble while playing in a Test against Pakistan in Delhi, where he became the second bowler to grab all 10 wickets of the opposition in Tests.
Home and Away Bowling Records for Indian Pacers and Spinners
When it comes to spinners, Anil Kumble is the only bowler who has picked up most wickets in home and away conditions, with 476 and 336 wickets, respectively.
The number of wickets scalped by Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan while bowling in home and away conditions, respectively, is 319 and 323. This is the highest among the Indian pacers.
