India's 5 highest Test wicket-takers in Australia ft. Jasprit Bumrah
Touring Australia is a tough challenge for any visiting team and even tougher is beating them on the surfaces offering pace and bounce. However, over the years, India have proved to be the finest side on Australian pitches.
The Men in Blue have secured Test series victories on their last two tours to Australia (2018/19 and 2020/21) and will be confident ahead of the five-Test series, starting November 22 in Perth.
A key factor driving India's success on the last two tours has been the impactful bowling performances, where they have posed a strong challenge to the opposition batters.
Historically as well, the Indian bowlers have delivered their best and helped the team recover from precarious situations, regardless of the outcome of a game. On that note, let's take a look at the Indian bowlers with the most wickets in Australia.
#5 Jasprit Bumrah - 32 wickets
India's most lethal weapon in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Jasprit Bumrah ranks fifth on the list. The right-arm pacer has scalped 32 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 21.25 in Australia. He has represented the side on their last two tours.
Bumrah's best performance came in Melbourne in December 2018, where he finished with career-best match figures of 9/86. His efforts helped the Indian side win the game by 137 runs, and eventually the series 2-1.
#4 Bishan Singh Bedi - 35 wickets
Left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi took 35 wickets in seven games Down Under. He played for India from 1967 to 1979, while touring Australia on two occasions (1967-68 and 1977-78).
Bedi was the finest bowler during the 1977-78 series with 31 scalps in five games. He recorded his best-ever match figures of 10/194 in the Perth Test, albeit in a losing cause. However, his wicket-taking abilities helped the team close out a respectable 3-2 series defeat.
#3 Ravichandran Ashwin - 39 wickets
In 10 Tests in Australia, Ravichandran Ashwin has bagged 39 wickets and will be a key player for the visitors in the 2024-25 edition of the Border Gavaskar Trophy as well.
Ashwin's best figures of 4/55 in an innings Down Under came in the opening Test of the 2020-21 series. The master spinner's effort paved the way for India to secure a 53-run first-innings lead. However, the hosts bundled out India for their lowest-ever test score of 36 to win the game easily.
#2 Anil Kumble - 49 wickets
India's highest wicket-taker in Tests with 619 wickets, Anil Kumble fared quite well on Australian pitches. During his illustrious career, Kumble toured Australia thrice (1999-2000, 2003-04 and 2007-08). He managed to end with 49 wickets in 10 games in these three editions.
Kumble's finest performance came in the 2003-24 edition, where he was the leading wicket-taker with 24 scalps in three games. His best figures of 8/141 in an innings Down Under came in the Sydney Test, which helped India garner a 231-run first-innings lead. However, the game ended as a draw.
#1 Kapil Dev - 51 wickets
Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev ranks first on the list with 51 Test wickets in Australia. Dev toured the country on three occasions (1980-81, 1985-86 and 1991-92) and featured in a total of 10 games.
He impressed with terrific figures of 8/106 in the Adelaide Test in December 1985, which ended as a draw. His best-ever tally of 25 wickets in a series Down Under came in the 1991-92 edition.