Bowling records in cricket history India, Anil Kumble holds the record for having the most wickets taken, 956, in the history of cricket played by Indians. Three Indian cricketers have taken more than 700 wickets.
These include Anil Kumble, Ashwin, and Harbhajan Singh. Kapil Dev and Ravindra Jadeja have also done well. Each table below covers one format in plain numbers. The Playinexchange Platform keeps all three formats in one spot so these cricket records will be easy for you to follow up.
India’s Highest Wicket-Takers Across All Formats
Career totals open the bowling records in cricket history that India has set. Each total adds Tests, ODIs and T20Is together. A dash means the bowler never played the format for India.
| Bowler | Tests | ODIs | T20Is | Total | Matches | Years |
| Anil Kumble | 619 | 337 | – | 956 | 403 | 1990 to 2008 |
| R Ashwin | 537 | 156 | 72 | 765 | 287 | 2010 to 2024 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 417 | 269 | 25 | 711 | 367 | 1998 to 2016 |
| Kapil Dev | 434 | 253 | – | 687 | 356 | 1978 to 1994 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 348 | 232 | 54 | 634 | 373 | 2009 onward |
Kumble finishes 191 wickets ahead of Ashwin. Jadeja’s row reflects January 2026, so the total has moved on by now. These five names anchor the bowling records in cricket history India fans quote most often.
Best Indian Bowlers of All Time by Wickets per Match
Long careers pile up wickets. A per-match rate gives a fairer picture of the best Indian bowlers of all time. Each figure below divides career wickets by games played.
| Bowler | Wickets | Matches | Per match |
| R Ashwin | 765 | 287 | 2.7 |
| Anil Kumble | 956 | 403 | 2.4 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 711 | 367 | 1.9 |
| Kapil Dev | 687 | 356 | 1.9 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 634 | 373 | 1.7 |
Spin rules this group of Indian greats. Kapil Dev stands alone as a fast bowler, and Ashwin averages over two wickets every game he plays.
India’s Best Bowling Records in Test Cricket
Test cricket holds the oldest bowling records in cricket history India owns. Kumble owns most of them, while Ashwin has taken the most five-wicket hauls.
Record Holders in Tests
| Record | Holder | Numbers |
| Most Test wickets | Anil Kumble | 619 in 132 Tests |
| Best innings | Anil Kumble | 10 for 74 versus Pakistan, Delhi, 1999 |
| Best match | Narendra Hirwani | 16 for 136 versus West Indies, Chennai, 1988 |
| Most five-wicket hauls | R Ashwin | 37 against Kumble’s 35 |
| Second on the wickets list | R Ashwin | 537 in 106 Tests |
Other Top Test Wicket-Takers
Three more bowlers also feature in the bowling records in cricket history India keeps.
| Bowler | Wickets | Tests | Best innings |
| Kapil Dev | 434 | 131 | 9 for 83 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 417 | 103 | 8 for 84 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 348 | 89 | 7 for 42 |
Hirwani produced his match figures on debut, which makes the record rarer. Jadeja’s numbers belong to January 2026.Playinexchange offers more cricket insights to help you deepen your understanding of the game. Keep reading to explore more and stay informed.
India Bowling Records in ODIs
ODI bowling records in cricket history that India holds have two clear stars. Kumble owns the wicket total, and Shami owns the best single day.
| Record | Holder | Numbers |
| Most wickets | Anil Kumble | 337 in 271 ODIs |
| Best innings | Mohammed Shami | 7 for 57 versus New Zealand, 2023 World Cup semi-final, Mumbai |
| Most five-wicket hauls | Mohammed Shami | 6 |
| Cheapest six-wicket spell | Stuart Binny | 6 for 4 versus Bangladesh, 2014 |
Shami is the only Indian cricketer who has taken seven wickets in a single innings in ODIs. Apart from the above-stated information, the wicket records for Harbhajan Singh, Kapil Dev, and Jadeja in ODIs are 269, 253, and 232 respectively as per 2026 January.
T20Is Bowling Records of India
Bowling records in cricket history India holds in T20Is belong mostly to a newer group. Arshdeep Singh still plays, so his total keeps rising.
| Record | Holder | Numbers |
| Most wickets for India | Arshdeep Singh | 125 plus, as of March 2026 |
| Best innings | Deepak Chahar | 6 for 7 versus Bangladesh, Nagpur, 2019 |
| Best economy, 50 plus wickets | Jasprit Bumrah | Under 7 runs per over |
Chahar took just 3.2 overs to claim his six wickets. This feat is highly ranked amongst bowling records in the history of cricket remembered by India fans.
India Bowling Statistics Made Simple
Newcomers to bowling records in cricket history India has built should learn four terms first.
| Term | Plain meaning |
| 7/57 | Seven wickets, 57 runs conceded |
| Economy rate | Runs given away per over, where lower is better |
| Five-wicket haul | Five dismissals by one bowler in one innings |
| Wickets per match | Career wickets divided by games played |
Active players change these numbers after every match, so older bowling records in cricket history India holds look steadier. Always check the date beside any India bowling statistics for current bowlers.
Final Thoughts on Bowling Records in Cricket History India
Kumble’s 956 wickets, Hirwani’s 16 in one Test and Shami’s 7/57 stand as the biggest peaks. Fans track these figures closely. Several bowlers still play, so some cricket records will keep moving. Playinexchange adds more simple guides on records like these.
FAQ
Who Is India’s Top Fast Bowler by Wickets?
Kapil Dev leads the fast bowlers with 687 wickets. Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath rank below him.
Is Jasprit Bumrah in India’s Top Five for Wickets?
Not yet. Bumrah had 506 international wickets by August 2026, short of the top five.These wickets were achieved in 238 games, the fewest out of all bowlers named above.
Who Are The Bowlers To Take All 10 Wickets In A Test Match Innings?
Three players can claim this record – Jim Laker in 1956, Anil Kumble in 1999 and Ajaz Patel in 2021.
Is Ravindra Jadeja Still Playing T20Is?
No. Ravindra Jadeja quit T20Is after the 2024 T20 World Cup, with his last game being against South Africa on 29 June 2024. Tests and ODIs remained open to him in January 2026.
Did R Ashwin Retire From International Cricket?
Yes. Ashwin retired in December 2024 after a Test against Australia, which began on 6 December.