Top 5 best bowling figures by Indian captains in test cricket

Only four times an Indian captain has taken six or more wickets in an innings in test cricket.

Captaining the Indian cricket team is an immensely prestigious, but also a demanding job. In a country that lives and breathes cricket, the captain of their cricket team always finds himself under a huge amount of scrutiny.

The role of a captain not only involves the responsibility of decisions on the field, but also racking up consistent individual performances.

In the history of Indian cricket, the responsibility of leading the test side has been given to bowlers and all-rounders only a handful of times. Being a bowler who is a captain requires him to put his personal setbacks as a bowler aside and be alert as a skipper as well. Despite their limited number, some of the bowling captains have pulled off memorable performances for India.

On that note let’s take a look at the five best bowling figures by Indian captains in test cricket. The list involves a spin maestro and arguably the greatest fast bowler that the country ever produced.

Top five best bowling figures by Indian captains in test cricket:

5. Bishan Singh Bedi – 5/27 vs New Zealand, 1976, Wankhede

In the Wankhede test of New Zealand’s 1976 tour of India, then captain Bishan Singh Bedi spun a web around New Zealand’s batting in their second innings to pick up 5/27. Chasing a total of 304, New Zealand were outclassed by Bedi’s brilliance and were bundled for 141, handing India a win by 161 runs.

Bedi’s variations saw him strike at regular intervals, as New Zealand never quite gained control of the run chase. Bedi’s spell set the tone for India in the test series, as the hosts clinched the three-match test series 2-0.

4. Kapil Dev – 6/77 vs West Indies, 1983, Delhi

Just a few months after the World Cup win in 1983, India hosted West Indies for a six-match test series. In the second test at Delhi, Kapil Dev was the star of the show for India in the first innings, picking up 6/77.

In a drawn test which saw the bat dominate the ball, India, with the help of centuries from Sunil Gavaskar and Dilip Vengsarkar, posted a huge total of 464 runs. Then, Dev’s brilliance with the ball saw India restricting West Indies to 384 runs, and taking a handy lead of 80 runs. Kapil’s 6/77 included key wickets of Sir Vivian Richards and then West Indies captain Clive Lloyd.

The game resulted in a draw and Dilip Vengsarkar was named Player of the Match for his scores of 159 and 63 runs.

3. Bishan Singh Bedi – 6/71 vs England, 1977, Bengaluru

Leading the side, Bedi produced a match-winning spell against England in the Bengaluru test of the 1977 series. His 6/71 in the second innings guided the Indian team to victory.

Chasing a huge target of 318, the English team fell clueless to Bedi, as he varied his pace on a pitch which assisted the spinners.

India bowled out England for 177 in their second innings, winning the game by 140 runs.

2. Kapil Dev – 8/106 vs Australia, 1985, Adelaide

The then-Indian skipper Kapil Dev shook the Australian batting lineup with his 8/106 in the Adelaide test in 1985. Kapil’s spell was an exhibition of fast bowling as he showcased immense discipline.

On a flat track that saw Australia post a total of 381 runs in their first innings, Kapil was the only Indian bowler who was effective. Kapil’s bowling performance made sure Australia didn’t go past 400.

India replied in brilliant fashion, amassing 520 runs in their first innings to take a 139-run lead. The game ended in a draw. Kapil Dev was named the Player of the Match for his eight wickets and 38 runs with the bat.

1. Kapil Dev – 9/83 vs West Indies, 1983, Ahmedabad

Hailed as India’s greatest-ever all-rounder, Kapil Dev’s best bowling performance both as a captain and as a player in test cricket came in 1983 when he took 9/83 against West Indies at Ahmedabad. This spell was special as it came against the power-packed mighty West Indies.

Kapil was immaculate with his line and length, leading the fight back for India after they had conceded a first-innings deficit of 40 runs. He missed out on picking all 10 wickets in the innings.

However, West Indies completed a comprehensive victory by 138 runs, courtesy of Michael Holding’s all-round efforts.

(All stats updated till 16th October, 2024)

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