Most 10-Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket

This article provides a rundown on the most ten-wicket hauls taken for India in Tests, with a focus on the spin mastery by Kumble, Ashwin, and Harbhajan.

Most Ten-Wicket Hauls for India in Tests

Key Insights on Ten-Wicket Haul Records by Indian Bowlers in Test Cricket

Joint-Highest Ten-Wicket Hauls and Best Figures in a Match

Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin have jointly taken the most ten-wicket hauls for India in Test cricket, with eight ten-fors each.

Anil Kumble and Ravichandran Ashwin are currently tied for the fourth-highest number of ten-wicket hauls in Test cricket history globally. Find out who holds the all-time record for the same here.

The best match haul for India belongs to Narendra Hirwani, who picked up 16 wickets for 136 runs against the West Indies in the 1988 Chennai Test.

Hirwani’s 16 for 136 is also the best figures by a bowler in his debut Test match.

Among fast bowlers, Javagal Srinath has delivered the best Test haul for India, fetching 13 scalps for 132 runs against Pakistan in the 1999 Kolkata Test.

When it comes to 5-wicket hauls, it is Ashwin who rules the Indian chart.

Home, Away, and All Ten Wickets in an Innings

Seven of Kumble’s ten-fors came in India, the most by an Indian bowler at home in Tests. Ashwin follows Kumble with six ten-wicket hauls at home.

Ashwin’s other two ten-wicket hauls came outside India, the joint-most for India in away Tests, along with Irfan Pathan.

Kapil Dev and Irfan Pathan are the only Indian fast bowlers to pick up two ten-wicket hauls in Tests. Kapil Dev is also the leading wicket-taker among Indian pacers.

Kumble is the lone Indian bowler to clean up all ten wickets of an opponent team in a Test innings, returning with 10 for 74 against Pakistan in the 1999 Delhi Test, making it the best bowling figures for India in a Test innings.

Bonus: Find out which other Indian bowlers have picked a 10-for in First Class cricket.

Calendar Year, Opponent, and Venue Records

Ashwin picked up three ten-wicket hauls in 2016, the most by an Indian bowler in a calendar year in Tests.

Kumble took two ten-wicket hauls each in three different years – 1999, 2004, and 2005.

Harbhajan Singh (against Australia, 2001) and Ashwin (against New Zealand, 2016) are the two Indian bowlers with two ten-wicket hauls in a bilateral Test series.

Harbhajan and Ashwin have also taken the most ten-wicket hauls against a Test team, with three each against Australia and New Zealand, respectively.

Harbhajan took two ten-fors against Sri Lanka, while Kumble had two each against three opponents – Australia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Overall, Ashwin grabbed at least one ten-wicket haul against six teams, the most by an Indian bowler in Tests.

Ashwin is also the only Indian bowler with at least one Test ten-for against South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia (SENA).

Kumble is the only Indian bowler to take two ten-fors at the same venue in Tests – Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi.

Read: Most Wickets for India in SENA Countries