Top 5 best bowling figures (innings) by Indian bowlers in test cricket

Only two Indian bowlers have taken over 500 wickets in test cricket.

Test cricket is the ultimate format where a player is tested for his skillset and stamina for multiple days. While the batsmen can make as many runs as they can, it is the bowlers who drive the test match as eventually to win it, a team needs to take 20 wickets.

Talking about Indian cricket, the country has been blessed with some of the finest bowlers in the longest format.

From legendary pacer Kapil Dev to India’s leading test wicket-taker, Anil Kumble, and now to the modern-day great Jasprit Bumrah, these bowlers have established their legacies in different eras while playing for their nation in whites.

On that note, let’s take a look at the best bowling figures in an innings by Indian bowlers in test cricket:

Top five best bowling figures (innings) by Indian bowlers in test cricket:

5. Vinoo Mankad – 8/52 vs Pakistan, 1952

Former spinner Vinoo Mankad produced a match-winning spell of 8/52 in the first innings against arch-rivals Pakistan in the Delhi test in 1952. Batting first, India scored 372 runs after Hemu Adhikari played an unbeaten knock of 81 runs.

In reply, Pakistan surrendered against Mankad’s spin-bowling masterclass. The left-arm spinner bagged an eight-wicket haul, bundling out the visitors for 150 runs.

Pakistan made 152 runs in their second innings as Mankad picked five more wickets. India won the one-sided affair by an innings and 70 runs.

4. Subhash Gupte – 9/102 vs West Indies, 1958

Leg-spinner Subhash Gupte claimed 9/102 in the first innings of the Kanpur test against the West Indies in 1958. The visitors made 222 runs while leg-spinner Subhash Gupte picked up nine wickets for India.

In reply, India also scored 222 runs, where West Indies’ Wes Hall took six wickets. In the second innings of the West Indies, Garry Sobers played a stunning knock of 198, which guided his side to 443/7 before declaring the innings and setting India a target of 444 runs.

India lost the match by 203 runs as they were knocked over for 240 while chasing.

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

Former all-rounder Kapil Dev recorded outstanding figures of 9/83 against the West Indies during the Ahmedabad test in 1983.

In their first innings, the West Indies notched up 281 runs and India scored 241. In the second innings of the visitors, Kapil Dev took nine wickets to bowl out West Indies for 201 runs.

While chasing 242, India were dismantled for just 103 runs as Michael Holding picked up four wickets. West Indies won the test in Ahmedabad by 138 runs.

Notably, 9/83 by Kapil Dev are also the best bowling figures by a captain in test cricket.

2. Jasubhai Patel – 9/69 vs Australia, 1959

Former off-spinner Jasubhai Patel’s 9/69 against Australia in the Kanpur test in 1959 is one of the best bowling shows by an Indian bowler.

India were bundled out for just 152 runs after Australia’s Alan Davidson picked up a five-wicket haul in the first innings.

In reply, Australia were all out for 219 runs as Jasubhai Patel claimed nine wickets in 35.5 overs. India made 291 runs in their second innings with Nari Contractor playing a gritty knock of 74 runs.

While chasing 225, Australia were bowled out for 105 runs with Jasubhai snaring five more wickets. Jasubhai’s 14 wickets in the match helped India win the Kanpur test by 119 runs.

1. Anil Kumble – 10/74 vs Pakistan, 1999

Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble is the only Indian bowler to pick all 10 wickets in an innings in a test match.

The former Indian captain achieved this historic feat during the Delhi test against arch-rivals Pakistan in 1999. Kumble’s spell helped India crush arch-rivals Pakistan by 212 runs.

Kumble produced a match-winning performance as he claimed 14 wickets in the match. The leg-spinner was awarded the Player of the Match award for his memorable bowling performance.

(All stats updated till 24th October, 2024)

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