Top 5 Indian bowlers with the highest wickets against Australia in Tests


Top 5 Indian bowlers with the highest wickets against Australia in Tests
Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh

The Indian team is currently practising in Australia for the upcoming mega-series against the Aussies. The tour will include three One Day International (ODIs), three Twenty20 International (T20Is) and four Test matches. Both the sides will begin with locking horns at the 50-over games from November 27 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. 

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The last time India toured Australia in 2018, the visiting side registered their maiden Test series win 2-1. Now, the kangaroos will be hungry to take their revenge against the Virat Kohli’s men. Both the sides have a long going rivalry in the longer format of the game.

Now, let’s look at the top five most successful Indian bowlers against Australia in the Test matches. Interestingly, Indian bowlers also lead the overall charts of the highest wicket-takers in the India-Australia Test series with just one Aussie bowler in the list of top 10.

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5. Zaheer Khan (61 Wickets)

One of the finest Indian seamers of all-time, Zaheer Khan is the fifth-highest Indian wicket-taker against Australia in Test matches. Khan has 61 scalps to his name in 19 games at an average of over 35. He used to be the pick of the Indian seamer during his times, especially in the overseas conditions. The southpaw produced his best figures against Australia during the 2008 Bangalore Test where he finished at 5/91. 

4. Ravi Ashwin (77 Wickets)

ravi ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin is the second-highest leading wicket-taker (after Nathan Lyon) amongst the active players in the India-Australia Test matches. With 77 wickets in just 15 games, Ashwin occupies the fourth spot in this list. His best bowling figures of 7/103 resulted in a victory for his side at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai in 2013. The 34-year old also has five fifers to his name against the kangaroos in the longer format. 

3. Kapil Dev (79 Wickets)

Legendary Indian skipper Kapil Dev is the greatest all-rounder to ever play for India across all the formats. He played 20 Test matches against Australia, claiming 79 wickets at a spectacular average of 25.35. Dev’s best performance of 8/106 came at the Adelaide Oval during the 1985 series that helped his side restricting the opponents at 381.

Also Read | ’I hope he can survive’: Kapil Dev talks about this star Indian pacer

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2. Harbhajan Singh (95 Wickets)

Australia is probably amongst the favourite opponents for Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. His records against the Aussies depict the same as the 40-year old has 95 wickets to his name in 18 matches. He took these wickets at an impressive bowling average of just a bit less than 30. Bhajji’s best bowling figures of 8/84 came during the 2001 Chennai Test. He also claimed India’s first Test hat-trick during the same series at the iconic Kolkata Test match.

1. Anil Kumble (111 Wickets)

With a whopping 111 wickets, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble is the highest wicket-taker in the India-Australia Test matches. He is also the only player to feature with more than 100 scalps in this list. With 619 Test wickets, Kumble is the all-time leading wicket-taker for India in the longer format. He featured in 20 Test matches against Australia claiming wickets at an impressive average of over 30. The leggie also has ten five-wicket hauls to his name against the Aussies.

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