When we talk about cricket in India, the spotlight often shines on legendary batsmen. However, the greatest Indian bowlers of all time have played a crucial role in shaping the game, leading India to numerous victories with their incredible skills and remarkable performances. From spin wizards to fast-bowling maestros, these bowlers have not only taken wickets but also captured the hearts of millions. Join me as we delve into the careers of these cricketing icons and celebrate their contributions to Indian cricket.
Top 10 Greatest Indian Bowlers of all Time
| Rank | Bowler | Matches | Wickets | Average | Five-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Bishan Singh Bedi | 77 | 273 | 29.21 | 14 |
| 9 | Mohammed Shami | 188 | 448 | 26.06 | 11 |
| 8 | Ravindra Jadeja | 345 | 573 | 29.18 | 15 |
| 7 | Jasprit Bumrah | 197 | 402 | 21.04 | 12 |
| 6 | Zaheer Khan | 303 | 597 | 31.48 | 12 |
| 5 | Javagal Srinath | 296 | 551 | 29.11 | 13 |
| 4 | Harbhajan Singh | 365 | 707 | 32.59 | 28 |
| 3 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 283 | 750 | 25.64 | 37 |
| 2 | Kapil Dev | 356 | 687 | 28.83 | 24 |
| 1 | Anil Kumble | 401 | 953 | 30.06 | 37 |
10. Bishan Singh Bedi
Bishan Singh Bedi, who many consider India’s top bowler before the 1980s, is ranked No. 10, even though he mostly played in Test matches.
In the 1960s and 1970s, Bedi was part of a strong spin bowling group alongside BS Chandrasekar, EAS Prasanna, and S Venkataraghavan. He ended his impressive Test career with 266 wickets, averaging 28.71, and took 14 five-wicket hauls in 67 matches.
Bedi also played 10 One Day Internationals (ODIs) when the format was new, where he took seven wickets.
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9. Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami is one of India’s great modern cricketers, known for his remarkable ability to take wickets at any point in a match across all formats. Many consider Shami the best fast bowler in India because of his unique seam position, straightforward bowling action, and tricky speed.
At 34 years old, he ranks as India’s eighth-highest wicket-taker in history, with 448 wickets to his name, including 11 five-wicket hauls. Shami holds the record for the most wickets by an Indian in ODI World Cups, ranking fifth overall with 55 wickets at an impressive average of 13.52 in 18 matches.
His overall ODI average of 23.68 is the best among Indian bowlers who have taken at least 150 wickets.
8. Ravindra Jadeja
India’s top left-arm spinner across all formats, Ravindra Jadeja, deserves his spot at No. 8 among the country’s bowling legends. Known for his precise bowling and strong determination, Jadeja remains a key player as he nears 36 years of age.
He ranks sixth all-time among Indian bowlers with 573 wickets and holds the seventh position in Test cricket, just one wicket short of 300. Even in a time of high scores, Jadeja’s economy rates in ODIs and T20Is under 5 and 7.20, respectively show that he is one of India’s most dependable bowlers.
Alongside Ravichandran Ashwin, Jadeja has built an outstanding partnership that has been essential for India’s dominance in home Test matches over the last decade.
7. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is currently considered the best bowler in the world across all formats and is quickly rising in the all-time bowling rankings. At just 30 years old and likely entering his career’s prime, Bumrah is already 10th on India’s list of top wicket-takers, with 402 wickets.
He has impressive bowling averages of 24 in all formats, with a remarkable average of under 21 in Test and T20I matches. His overall career average of 21.04 is the second-best in cricket history, only behind Joel Garner. Achieving this in an era that favors batting is truly incredible.
Beyond his stats, Bumrah’s ability to perform in different conditions and at various stages of an innings makes him a significant threat to even the best batsmen in the world. He was named Player of the Tournament in India’s recent T20 World Cup victory, achieving outstanding averages and an economy rate of under 9 and 5, respectively.
If Bumrah maintains this level of performance, it would be surprising if he doesn’t become one of India’s, or even the world’s, three greatest bowlers in the next five years.
6. Zaheer Khan
Zaheer Khan, India’s greatest left-arm fast bowler, led their bowling attack throughout the 2000s, making India a strong team in overseas Test matches for the first time. He earned recognition by challenging some of the finest Test batsmen in history, like Graeme Smith and Andrew Strauss, thanks to his skill in moving the ball back in from the off-stump line.
Zaheer ranks fifth among all Indian bowlers and second among fast bowlers for the most wickets, with a total of 597.
He also played an essential part in India’s victory in the 2011 ODI World Cup held at home, making him the fourth highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India, with 269 wickets. Now 45 years old, he is fifth among Indian bowlers in Test wickets, with 311, and ranks in the top ten for overall wickets in ODI World Cups.
5. Javagal Srinath
Javagal Srinath, a former right-arm fast bowler, is the last name in the top five Indian bowlers. During a time when India mostly depended on spin bowlers to win matches, Srinath stood out as the only bright spot among fast bowlers.
He ranks seventh all-time among Indian bowlers with 551 wickets and is tied for ninth overall in ODI World Cup wickets with 44.
In ODIs, Srinath is second among Indian players with 315 wickets and has the second-most five-wicket hauls among Indian fast bowlers, with a total of 13.
4. Harbhajan Singh
The Mount Rushmore of Indian bowlers includes former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who impressed fans for 17 years in all formats of the game. At 44 years old, he stands as India’s third-highest wicket-taker, having claimed 707 wickets in 365 matches.
Harbhajan is one of only four Indian bowlers to take over 400 Test wickets and ranks third for the most five-wicket hauls in history, with 28 to his name. He played a crucial role in India’s victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup and the 2011 ODI World Cup.
One of the highlights of Harbhajan’s career came in 2001 when he took 32 wickets in a three-Test series against Australia, including a hat-trick in the second Test. This performance was key in helping India achieve a surprising 2-1 series win against a strong Australian team.
3. Ravichandran Ashwin
India’s top off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, ranks No. 3 and keeps breaking records every day. At 38 years old, he is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests, with 523 wickets, and across all formats, he has 750 wickets.
Ashwin is among only nine bowlers globally to have taken 500 Test wickets, and he holds the record for the most five-wicket hauls (37) by an Indian bowler. He has also performed well in white-ball cricket, with 228 wickets and played key roles in India’s victories at the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Ashwin has been a crucial factor in India’s remarkable success in Test cricket over the last ten years, boasting an impressive bowling average of 25.64, which is the best for any Indian bowler with at least 500 international wickets.
2. Kapil Dev
Kapil Dev, India’s greatest fast bowler and captain of the team that won the first-ever World Cup in 1983, is ranked No. 2.
Now 65 years old, he holds the fourth position among all Indian bowlers and is the top fast bowler with 687 wickets. Kapil also has the highest number of five-wicket hauls for an Indian pacer, totaling 24.
In Tests, he ranks as the third-highest wicket-taker for India, with 434 wickets at an average of 29.64, including 23 five-wicket hauls. Additionally, he is sixth among Indian bowlers in One Day Internationals (ODIs) with 253 wickets. His economy rate of 3.71 is the best for any Indian bowler in ODIs with at least 100 wickets.
1. Anil Kumble
Anil Kumble, a former leg-spinner, is clearly the best choice for the No. 1 spot among Indian bowlers. At 53 years old, he ranks fourth in Test history for the most wickets taken, with an impressive total of 619.
Kumble also holds the record for being India’s leading wicket-taker in all formats, amassing a remarkable 953 wickets. He shares the record for the most five-wicket hauls (37) with Ravichandran Ashwin.
He is one of only three bowlers in the world to take all 10 wickets in a single Test innings. Additionally, Kumble is India’s top wicket-taker in ODIs, with 334 wickets at an impressive economy rate of less than 4.30.
His remarkable consistency and the volume of his achievements make it clear that Kumble deserves the top spot in the rankings of Indian bowlers.
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