India and South Africa are the two best test cricket-playing nations in the world. It is a joy to watch them playing. Earlier Indian spinners were sensational in both conditions, home and away, but lately, Indian pace bowlers are as good as the South African bowlers in terms of skill, discipline, accuracy. Taking wickets against the quality Proteas batting side is commendable. In this article, we will see the bowlers with the most test wickets for India against South Africa.
Players Most Test Wickets for India against South Africa
Anil Kumble
The 4th highest wicket-taker in test cricket, Anil Kumble tops the list with 84 wickets in 21 matches. Known as “Jumbo” in world cricket, Anil has also bowled 262 maidens against South Africa, which is the most by any bowler among India and South Africa bowlers. With 3 five-wicket hauls, Kumble’s supreme performance came in 1992 in Johannesburg, 6/53. Kumble was a part of the Indian team, that won the first test match in South Africa in 2006.
Javagal Srinath
Former Indian fast bowler, Javagal Srinath comes in 2nd place on the list of taking the most Test wickets for India against South Africa. In his 9 years of test cricket (1992-2001), Srinath played 13 matches against proteas and bagged 64 wickets. During his career, Srinath took 4 out of his 10 five-wicket hauls against South Africa. His best against them was 6/21 in Ahmedabad in 1996.
Harbhajan Singh
Recently retired off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh has to make it to this list being the 4th highest wicket-taker for India in test cricket history. Harbhajan was known for his accurate off-spin bowling, at times he would bowl doosra to deceive the batsmen. With an average of 28.40, Bhajji grabbed 60 wickets in 11 matches against strong South Africa. In 2004, Singh returned with 7 for 87 at Eden Gardens, which got him the Man of the Match award.
Ravi Ashwin
The best spinner of the current era, Ravichandran Ashwin has scalped 56 test wickets in 12 matches for India against South Africa, which is the 4th most by any Indian. Ashwin is the versatile spinner, webs in and out to trap the batsmen. He has gone past 5 wickets mark 5 times against them, which refers to his love for playing against mighty South Africa.
Mohammad Shami
Ace Indian fast bowler Mohammad Shami finds himself at 5th position in terms of getting the most wickets, 45 wickets in 10 matches so far. Shami bowls with the most precise seam position in the globe, which confuses the batsmen about the way the ball is gonna move. Shami has been India’s important bowler in test cricket. Shami’s paramount show(5/28) in Johannesburg in 2018 helped him to win the match.
Anil Kumble has taken the most Test wickets for India against South Africa (84).
Ravichandran Ashwin has the most test wickets among current cricketers (56).
| Player | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | Best | Fifer |
| A Kumble | 21 | 40 | 84 | 31.79 | 81.3 | 6/53 | 3 |
| J Srinath | 13 | 25 | 64 | 24.48 | 51.7 | 6/21 | 5 |
| H Singh | 11 | 19 | 60 | 28.40 | 59.4 | 7/87 | 4 |
| R Ashwin | 12 | 23 | 56 | 20.76 | 49.8 | 7/66 | 5 |
| M Shami | 10 | 20 | 45 | 20.55 | 40.5 | 5/28 | 3 |
| R Jadeja | 08 | 15 | 42 | 19.09 | 50.3 | 6/138 | 3 |
| Z Khan | 12 | 22 | 40 | 36.42 | 66.2 | 4/62 | – |
| S Sreesath | 9 | 16 | 31 | 33.70 | 57.00 | 5/40 | 2 |
| I Sharma | 15 | 27 | 31 | 43.51 | 86.1 | 4/79 | – |
| V Prasad | 06 | 12 | 25 | 27.36 | 51.1 | 6/104 | 3 |
I’m Akash Saha, Chief Cricket News Editor at Skyblogs Cricket with more than 10 years of experience in the Cricket Sports industry. I’m also a district level cricketer from West Bengal and represented multiple clubs within our state. I’m also a 2nd division player member of Kolkata’s oldest and renowned club CCFC where I have also played multiple Kolkata club cricket tournaments.
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