Indian Cricket Team is predominantly known for its batting talent. Many batting legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Sunil Gavaskar, Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, and Virat Kohli have represented this team. Bowling has always been the weaker link, but India has still produced some star bowlers throughout history. Which one of them do you think has taken the most ODI wickets for India?
Here, we will talk about the 10 highest wicket-takers in One Day Internationals for India. So, let’s begin!
1. Anil Kumble
The former leg-spinner represented India in 269 ODI matches. After bowling over 14,000 deliveries, he went on to pick 334 wickets. He bowled in 263 innings, so he had a wicket-to-innings ratio of 1.27. He went for only 4.29 runs per over, which tells about his remarkable consistency. On average, he conceded around 31 runs and bowled about 43 balls to send a batsman back to the pavilion.
His best bowling figures in the 50-over format are 6 for 12, which came against West Indies. Anil Kumble took most ODI wickets for India, and he is also the top wicket-taker for his side in Test matches.
2. Javagal Srinath
The legendary fast bowler has taken 315 wickets for India in 227 innings. It translates to a wicket to innings ratio of 1.39. Srinath also had a brilliant economy rate of 4.44, and he took a wicket in almost every 38 balls. His bowling average was 28.08, and he had the best bowling figures of 5 for 23. The former pacer bowled 8,847 balls in his ODI career.
3. Ajit Agarkar
The speedster had a relatively short career of about 10 years. But he still became the bowler with 3rd most wickets for India. Agarkar bowled around 9 and a half thousand deliveries to bag 288 wickets. His best ODI spell had figures of 6 for 42. His economy rate was 5.07. His bowling average and strike rate were 27.85 and 32.93, respectively.
4. Zaheer Khan
Among the left-arm bowlers, Zaheer Khan has the most ODI wickets for India. The pacer has 269 wickets against his name. After 191 outings with the ball, he had a bowling average of 30.11 and a strike rate of 36.48. He went for just 4.95 runs per over and his best spell had the figures of 5 for 42.
5. Harbhajan Singh
The off-spinner represented India in 234 One Day International matches. In 225 innings, he grabbed 265 scalps and went for just 4.3 runs an over. His best bowling figures were 5 for 31, and he took a wicket every 46.63 balls. On average, he conceded 33.47 runs for sending a batsman back to the pavilion.
6. Kapil Dev
The first Indian captain to win a World Cup also finds himself on the list. His 253 wickets came at an outstanding economy rate of 3.71. 5 for 43 were his best bowling figures. In 221 innings, he averaged 27.45 and struck once in every 44.27 deliveries.
7. Venkatesh Prasad
The fast bowler took 196 wickets for India in the 50-over format. He gave 4.67 runs per over in 160 innings. Prasad’s best figures with the ball were 5 for 27, and he picked a wicket every 41.47 balls. He went for 32.29 runs to provide a breakthrough.
8. Ravindra Jadeja
Among active cricketers, Ravindra Jadeja has got the most ODI wickets for India. He has grabbed 191 wickets in 168 innings till now. His best bowling figures are 5 for 36, and he takes a wicket every 45.68 balls. The left-arm spinner has an impressive economy rate of 4.91, and every 37.39 balls bowled by him brought a wicket.
9. Irfan Pathan
Irfan’s 118 outings with the ball resulted in 173 wickets for India. It came at the expense of 5.26 runs per over. With a best of 5 for 27, he picked a scalp every 33.84 balls. For one wicket, he gave about 30 runs.
10. Mohammed Shami
The speedster has got 2nd most ODI wickets for India among the active players. His 162 wickets have come only in 89 innings. His economy rate of 5.6 is on the higher side as he concedes about 26 runs to dismiss a batsman. He strikes once in almost every 28 balls, and his most impressive bowling figures are 5 for 69.
Most ODI Wickets For India– List of Top 10 Bowlers
Here’s the summary of all the above discussion:
| Bowler | Span | Innings | Overs | Wickets | Economy Rate | Average | Strike Rate | 5-Fers | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anil Kumble | 1990-2007 | 263 | 2396 | 334 | 4.29 | 30.83 | 43.04 | 2 | 6/12 |
| Javagal Srinath | 1991-2003 | 227 | 1989.1 | 315 | 4.44 | 28.08 | 37.88 | 3 | 5/23 |
| Ajit Agarkar | 1998-2007 | 188 | 1580.4 | 288 | 5.07 | 27.85 | 32.93 | 2 | 6/42 |
| Zaheer Khan | 2000-2012 | 191 | 1635.5 | 269 | 4.95 | 30.11 | 36.48 | 1 | 5/42 |
| Harbhajan Singh | 1998-2015 | 225 | 2059.5 | 265 | 4.3 | 33.47 | 46.63 | 3 | 5/31 |
| Kapil Dev | 1978-1994 | 221 | 1867 | 253 | 3.71 | 27.45 | 44.27 | 1 | 5/43 |
| Venkatesh Prasad | 1994-2001 | 160 | 1354.5 | 196 | 4.67 | 32.29 | 41.47 | 1 | 5/27 |
| Ravindra Jadeja | 2009-2023 | 168 | 1454.1 | 191 | 4.91 | 37.39 | 45.68 | 1 | 5/36 |
| Irfan Pathan | 2004-2012 | 118 | 975.5 | 173 | 5.26 | 29.72 | 33.84 | 2 | 5/27 |
| Mohammed Shami | 2013-2023 | 89 | 751 | 162 | 5.6 | 25.98 | 27.81 | 1 | 5/69 |
Conclusion
Anil Kumble has the most ODI wickets for India. He picked 334 wickets in his career. The list of top 10 ODI wicket takers for India includes 7 pacers and 3 spinners. 8 of those 10 bowlers are retired, while the other two (Mohammed Shami and Ravindra Jadeja) are still playing. The list contains 7 right-handed bowlers and 3 left-handed ones.
