Taking five wickets in a single innings is one of the most prestigious milestones for any bowler in Test cricket. Achieving this feat shows the bowler’s ability to dominate the batsmen and influence the outcome of the match dramatically. India has been fortunate to have several bowlers who have excelled in this area, earning the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket across different eras.
List of 10 Players with Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket
10. Zaheer Khan (2000-2014)
Zaheer Khan is widely regarded as one of India’s finest fast bowlers, particularly for his ability to swing the ball and take crucial wickets. His 15 five-wicket hauls are a testament to his skill and endurance, contributing heavily to the tally of the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket. Over 92 Test matches and 165 innings, Zaheer took 311 wickets at an average of 32.94. His best innings performance of 7 for 87 reflects his capability to lead the bowling attack and produce match-winning spells. Zaheer Khan’s consistent performance placed him among the elite Indian bowlers with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket, making him a key figure in Indian bowling history.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 92 | 18,785 | 311 | 15 | 7/87 |
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9. Subhash Gupte (1951-1961)
Subhash Gupte was a master leg-spinner whose sharp spin and clever variations allowed him to take 12 five-wicket hauls during his Test career. His impact on the list of players with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket is significant despite playing only 36 Tests. Gupte’s ability to bowl 9 wickets in a single innings (9 for 102) highlights his match-winning skills. With 149 wickets in 61 innings at an average of 29.55, Gupte remains one of India’s finest leg-spinners and a vital contributor to the country’s bowling legacy with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 36 | 11,284 | 149 | 12 | 9/102 |
8. Bishan Singh Bedi (1966-1979)
Bishan Singh Bedi is a legendary slow left-arm spinner who made a major contribution to India’s bowling attack with his 14 five-wicket hauls. His position in the list of the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket is well-earned due to his ability to bowl with flight and guile. Across 67 Tests and 118 innings, Bedi took 266 wickets with a respectable average of 28.71. His best bowling figures, 7 for 98, demonstrate his potential to turn games around. Bedi’s name is etched in the record books for the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket because of his sustained excellence in Test cricket.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 67 | 21,364 | 266 | 14 | 7/98 |
7. Ravindra Jadeja (2012-2025)
Ravindra Jadeja is currently one of India’s most valuable all-rounders, known for his remarkable accuracy and sharp fielding. Jadeja’s 15 five-wicket hauls place him prominently among the bowlers with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket. His ability to control the game in all conditions has made him a key figure in India’s bowling lineup. With 330 wickets from 85 Tests and 159 innings, Jadeja’s bowling average of 25.16 is impressive. His best innings figures of 7 for 42 demonstrate his match-winning ability and solidify his position on the list of the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 85 | 19,326 | 330 | 15 | 7/42 |
6. Jasprit Bumrah (2018-2025)
Jasprit Bumrah, one of the fastest rising stars in Indian cricket, has already achieved 15 five-wicket hauls in his relatively short Test career. His unique bowling style and deadly yorkers have helped him become a prominent name in the list of players with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket. Playing just 48 Tests so far and bowling in 91 innings, Bumrah has taken 219 wickets with an outstanding average of 19.82. His best figures of 6 for 27 show his match-winning potential. Bumrah continues to be a crucial part of the Indian bowling attack and an important contributor to the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 48 | 9,348 | 219 | 15 | 6/27 |
5. B.S. Chandrasekhar (1964-1979)
B.S. Chandrasekhar, despite bowling with an injured hand, amazed cricket fans by taking 16 five-wicket hauls in his Test career. His unique leg-spin and unpredictable bowling style earned him a special place in Indian cricket history and the list of bowlers with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket. Chandrasekhar played 58 Tests and bowled 97 innings, taking 242 wickets at an average of 29.74. His best figures, 8 for 79, reflect his ability to destroy batting line-ups and impact matches heavily.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 58 | 15,963 | 242 | 16 | 8/79 |
4. Kapil Dev (1978-1994)
Kapil Dev is one of the most famous Indian all-rounders, with an incredible 23 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket. His contributions with the ball have earned him a top spot in the list of players with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket. Over 131 Tests and 227 innings, Kapil took 434 wickets at an average of 29.64. His best bowling performance of 9 for 83 remains one of the best by an Indian fast bowler. Kapil’s consistency and power bowling made him an essential player for India, especially in terms of the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 131 | 27,740 | 434 | 23 | 9/83 |
3. Harbhajan Singh (1998-2015)
Harbhajan Singh is widely recognized as one of India’s finest off-spinners, with 25 five-wicket hauls in his 103-Test career. His impact on Indian cricket is clear from his inclusion in the list of players with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket. Harbhajan took 417 wickets in 190 innings, with a bowling average of 32.46. His best performance of 8 for 84 exemplifies his ability to take wickets in crucial moments. Harbhajan’s aggressive spin bowling has been instrumental in many Indian victories and his place in the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket list is well deserved.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 103 | 28,580 | 417 | 25 | 8/84 |
2. Anil Kumble (1990-2008)
Anil Kumble is India’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket and the second-highest on the list for the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket with 35 such hauls. Kumble’s longevity and skill helped him take 619 wickets in 132 Tests across 236 innings. His legendary feat of taking all 10 wickets in an innings (10 for 74) remains unparalleled. Kumble’s bowling average of 29.65 and ability to consistently take five-wicket hauls made him one of India’s greatest bowlers and a leader in the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket list.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 132 | 40,850 | 619 | 35 | 10/74 |
1. Ravichandran Ashwin (2011-2024)
Ravichandran Ashwin stands at the top with the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket, having achieved this milestone 37 times. His exceptional skill as a spinner and ability to adapt to different pitches have made him India’s most successful wicket-taker in recent years. Ashwin has taken 537 wickets in 106 Tests and 200 innings with a remarkable bowling average of 24.00. His best innings figures of 7 for 59 underline his dominance in the Test format. Ashwin’s record for the Most Five Wicket Hauls for India in Test Cricket showcases his immense contribution to Indian cricket.
| Matches | Balls Bowled | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls | Best Bowling |
| 106 | 27,246 | 537 | 37 | 7/59 |
FAQs
1. What does taking a five-wicket haul mean in Test cricket?
Taking a five-wicket haul means a bowler has taken five or more wickets in a single innings. It is considered a major achievement because it shows the bowler’s ability to dominate the batsmen and influence the match significantly.
2. Who holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls for India in Test cricket?
Ravichandran Ashwin holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls for India in Test cricket, with 37 such performances in his career so far.
3. Which Indian bowler took all 10 wickets in a single Test innings?
Anil Kumble is the only Indian bowler to take all 10 wickets in a single Test innings, with his famous figures of 10 for 74 against Pakistan in 1999.
4. How do five-wicket hauls reflect a bowler’s importance in the team?
Five-wicket hauls demonstrate a bowler’s skill and match-winning ability. Bowlers who frequently take five-wicket hauls can change the course of the game, making them vital to the team’s success in Test cricket.
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