Stats: Most wickets against India
We will look at the bowlers who have picked the most wickets against India in both ODI and Test Cricket. Here’s the ODI list:
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 63 | 74 | 31.78 | 4.28 |
| Chaminda Vaas (SL) | 61 | 70 | 31.61 | 4.66 |
| Wasim Akram (PAK) | 48 | 60 | 25.15 | 3.73 |
| Saqlain Mushtaq (PAK) | 36 | 57 | 24.38 | 4.52 |
| Brett Lee (AUS) | 32 | 55 | 21.00 | 4.49 |
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1. Muttiah Muralitharan (74 wickets)
World cricket’s most successful spinner is also the most successful one day bowler against India. Despite possessing a gigantic world renowed batting line up, India have never really got the better of Murali and have given him the due respect he deserves which explains the economy of 4.28. He also had his best bowling figures registered against India which is 7/30.???
?2. Chaminda Vaas (70 wickets)
No two teams have met each other more often than India and Sri Lanka. Perhaps that also explains why there are two Lankan bowlers on top. Chaminda Vaas like Murali has a pretty good record against the Indians having picked up 70 wickets at an average of 31.61. His best performance against them came in 2000 when Sri Lanka humbled India by hunting them down for a paltry 54. Vaas picked 5 wickets in that game.?
?3. Wasim Akram (60 wickets)
Not many have dominated the Pakistani legend, and India are no exception. Swing with the new ball, reverse swing with the old ball, Wasim was always a threat. His economy of 3.73 along with the 60 wickets he has taken against them tells us the story.
?4. Saqlain Mushtaq (57 wickets)
Saqlain’s stats are superb considering that he is a spinner and also considering the fact that Indians are traditionally good players of spin. 57 wickets in just 36 matches at an economy of 4.52 puts him in the 4th spot just below his former Pakistani captain.
?5. Brett Lee (55 wickets)
Statistically, the most successful bowler against India in limited overs cricket is Brett Lee. That average of 21 is simply staggering. Another fact to notice here is that he has picked up a five wicket haul four times against the Indians which is the maximum by any bowler.
Now, here’s the Test list:
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | No. of 5 wicket hauls |
| Muttiah Muralitharan (SL) | 22 | 105 | 32.61 | 7 |
| Imran Khan (PAK) | 23 | 94 | 24.04 | 6 |
| Malcolm Marshall (WI) | 17 | 76 | 21.98 | 6 |
| Sir Andy Roberts (WI) | 14 | 67 | 21.70 | 4 |
| Sir Richard Hadlee (NZ) | 14 | 65 | 22.96 | 4 |
??1. Muttiah Muralitharan (105 wickets)
It’s Murali again. Despite having struggled in India like all the spinners have, Murali’s record is really good against them in his home conditions. He totally has seven 5 wicket hauls against them with a total of 105 wickets. His best performance against India came in Colombo in 2001 when he picked up 8 wickets for 87 runs in an innings.
2. Imran Khan (94 wickets)
Imran Khan, Pakistan cricket’s biggest hero is at number 2 on this list. If we compile a list of the top 5 all rounders to have played Test Cricket, Imran would definitely feature in it. Against his arch rivals, he was at his best as he picked up 94 wickets totally in 23 Tests. He has picked up a match haul of 10 wickets twice against them with the best being 11 for 79 at Karachi in 1982.
?3. Malcolm Marshall (76 wickets)
With an overall bowling average of 20.94, the late Malcolm Marshall was one of the best bowlers going around in his hay days. Against India, he had played 17 Tests and picked up 76 wickets with a best bowling performance of 6 for 37 at the Eden gardens way back in 1983.
?4. Sir Andy Roberts (67 wickets)
From one Carribean legend to an other, Sir Andy Roberts probably had one of the dangerous bouncers during his time. He picked up four 5 wicket hauls against the Indians which include an impressive 12 wicket haul in the Chennai Test in the year 1975.
?5. Sir Richard Hadlee (65 wickets)
At one point of time, Sir Hadlee held the record for most wickets in Test cricket. His stats against India are very impressive as he averages 22.96 with 65 wickets. His best performance against them came in Wellington in 1976 when he picked up 11 wickets in the Test conceding only 58 runs.