India has been fortunate enough to produce a lot of fast bowlers and spinners of all kinds through the years. We have had the luxury to witness the Kapil Dev era, Zaheer Khan era, and so on, some of India’s great bowlers. Who is the best bowler in India? At present, the Indian pace attack is spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah who is the best medium-pacer in India 2024. Let’s take a look at the top 10 of India’s bowlers.
The list takes into account all three formats Tests, ODIs, T20Is, and IPL to find out who is India’s famous bowler in 2024.
List of Top 10 Best Bowlers in India 2024
ANIL KUMBLE
Anil Kumble, the legendary leg-spinner is the Indian best bowler, ever produced. Anil was not a big turner of the ball and did not have any magic deliveries like Warne or Murli. He though had a champion mindset and hardworking attitude which resulted in him ending with 619 Test wickets. His strength was the correct line, length, and quick of the wicket deliveries. Anil is the only Indian bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 132 | 236 | 40850 | 18355 | 619 | 10/74 | 14/149 | 2.7 | 29.65 | 65.99 | 35 | 8 |
ODI | 271 | 265 | 14496 | 10412 | 337 | 6/12 | 6/12 | 4.31 | 30.9 | 43.01 | 2 | 0 |
IPL | 42 | 42 | 965 | 1058 | 45 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 6.58 | 23.51 | 21.44 | 1 | 0 |
KAPIL DEV
The great Kapil Dev features in India’s best bowler list being an all-rounder is an amazing feat in itself. He has been India’s no. 1 best fast bowler. Having contributed a lot with the bat, Kapil also ended up taking 434 tests and 253 ODI wickets. Kapil bowled right-arm fast-medium bowling with a fluent run-up swinging the ball out for the right-handers. Kapil never missed a single game on fitness or injury grounds in his entire career. His best performance with the ball came against West Indies in 1983, Ahmedabad Test where he took 9 wickets giving 83 runs. See here Kapil dev score in the 1983 world cup final.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 131 | 227 | 27740 | 12867 | 434 | 9/83 | 11/146 | 2.78 | 29.65 | 63.92 | 23 | 2 |
ODI | 225 | 221 | 11202 | 6945 | 253 | 5/43 | 5/43 | 3.72 | 27.45 | 44.28 | 1 | 0 |
Also See: Top 10 Fastest Balls in International Cricket
RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN
Ravichandran Ashwin, the street smart cricketer has dismissed hundreds of batsmen with his tricks and variations. Ashwin has developed the carrom ball, arm ball, leg-spin, googly, and regular off-spin in his armory over the years with him being the best carrom ball bowler in the world. He’s won a lot of Man of the series awards playing tests at home picking a lot of 5 wicket-hauls. His contribution to the bat and his captaincy skills are also top-class.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 94 | 178 | 25113 | 11569 | 489 | 7/59 | 13/140 | 2.76 | 23.66 | 51.36 | 34 | 8 |
ODI | 113 | 111 | 6141 | 5058 | 151 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 4.94 | 33.5 | 40.67 | 0 | 0 |
T20I | 65 | 65 | 1452 | 1672 | 72 | 4/8 | 4/8 | 6.91 | 23.22 | 20.17 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 197 | 194 | 4194 | 4902 | 171 | 4/34 | 4/34 | 7.01 | 28.67 | 24.53 | 0 | 0 |
HARBHAJAN SINGH
Harbhajan Singh, former india number one bowler known as Bhajji or Turbanator made his India debut against Australia in 1998. Singh one of India’s best off-spin bowlers did not loop the bowl much and did not deceive the batsmen with his flight rather he relied on his accuracy, lengths, and pace variations. He hurried the batsmen bowling a goodish length and pitching the ball in the right areas. His career was full of controversies yet became the 10th Indian to play 100 Tests. He holds the record of the first Test hat-trick by an Indian.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 103 | 190 | 28580 | 13537 | 417 | 8/84 | 15/217 | 2.84 | 32.46 | 68.54 | 25 | 5 |
ODI | 236 | 227 | 12479 | 8973 | 269 | 5/31 | 5/31 | 4.31 | 33.36 | 46.39 | 3 | 0 |
T20I | 28 | 27 | 612 | 633 | 25 | 4/12 | 4/12 | 6.21 | 25.32 | 24.48 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 163 | 160 | 3416 | 4030 | 150 | 5/18 | 5/18 | 7.08 | 26.87 | 22.77 | 1 | 0 |
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ZAHEER KHAN
Zaheer Khan India’s best fast bowler who is also the most popular bowler in India when it comes to swing bowling made his debut in 2000 against Bangladesh. Zaheer is a left-arm pace bowler who could swing the ball both ways and also became a reverse-swing expert later in his career. Zaheer produced a number of incredible performances for India with 7/87 against Bangladesh being his best performance. He played a crucial role in the 2011 World Cup leading the Indian pace attack.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 92 | 165 | 18785 | 10247 | 311 | 7/87 | 10/149 | 3.27 | 32.95 | 60.4 | 11 | 1 |
ODI | 200 | 197 | 10097 | 8301 | 282 | 5/42 | 5/42 | 4.93 | 29.44 | 35.8 | 1 | 0 |
T20I | 17 | 17 | 352 | 448 | 17 | 4/19 | 4/19 | 7.64 | 26.35 | 20.71 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 100 | 99 | 2200 | 2782 | 102 | 4/17 | 4/17 | 7.59 | 27.27 | 21.57 | 0 | 0 |
JAVAGAL SRINATH
Javagal Srinath currently seen in the role of a Match Referee is the best bowler of India in World Cups picking 44 wickets in 34 games. Arguably India’s fastest bowler, Srinath had a strong run-up and was a hit-the-deck hard kind of bowler. He used to bowl a lot of inswingers and cutters but also had the ability to bowl outswing which he showed on occasions. Srinath was the spearhead of the Indian pace attack until he retired. He became the first Indian to take more than 300 wickets in ODI cricket. He was also the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests when he retired.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 67 | 121 | 15104 | 7196 | 236 | 8/86 | 13/132 | 2.86 | 30.49 | 64.0 | 10 | 1 |
ODI | 229 | 227 | 11935 | 8847 | 315 | 5/23 | 5/23 | 4.45 | 28.09 | 37.89 | 3 | 0 |
AJIT AGARKAR
Ajit Agarkar called India’s best bowler made his test as well as ODI debut in 1998, he straightaway had an impact picking the highest number of wickets in his initial series swinging the ball both ways. Not so tall, he could still bowl at 90 miles per hour and worked as a genuine wicket-taker in crucial situations. He also became the fastest Indian to reach 50 ODI wickets and still holds the record. His best performances came against Australia(6/41), where he helped India win their first Test in Australia in over 20 years.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 26 | 46 | 4857 | 2745 | 58 | 6/41 | 8/160 | 3.39 | 47.33 | 83.74 | 1 | 0 |
ODI | 191 | 188 | 9484 | 8021 | 288 | 6/42 | 6/42 | 5.07 | 27.85 | 32.93 | 2 | 0 |
T20I | 4 | 3 | 63 | 85 | 3 | 2/10 | 2/10 | 8.1 | 28.33 | 21.0 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 42 | 42 | 782 | 1151 | 29 | 3/25 | 3/25 | 8.83 | 39.69 | 26.97 | 0 | 0 |
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ISHANT SHARMA
The tall, lanky lad from Delhi Ishant is one of the most popular India best fast bowlers of India. He made his Test debut in 2007 against Bangladesh. On the tour to Australia in 2008, Ishant troubled the Aussies with his high-arm action, bowling at 140 kph. Ricky Ponting had a hard time facing Ishant as he got dismissed six times in seven test matches by Ishant. He soon became a regular pacer in the Indian Team and has done really well for India since then. He has 311-wicket hauls to date and continues to be an integral part of the Indian Test set-up. He recently became the 11th Indian to play 100 Tests.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 105 | 188 | 19160 | 10078 | 311 | 7/74 | 10/108 | 3.16 | 32.41 | 61.61 | 11 | 1 |
ODI | 80 | 78 | 3733 | 3562 | 115 | 4/34 | 4/34 | 5.73 | 30.97 | 32.46 | 0 | 0 |
T20I | 14 | 14 | 278 | 400 | 8 | 2/34 | 2/34 | 8.63 | 50.0 | 34.75 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 101 | 101 | 2147 | 2907 | 82 | 5/12 | 5/12 | 8.12 | 35.45 | 26.18 | 1 | 0 |
RAVINDRA JADEJA
Ravindra Jadeja, the best all-rounder today has had a huge impact with the ball in hand. Jaddu bowls left-arm orthodox spin and has an uncanny ability to pick up wickets and break crucial partnerships. In-home tests, the pair of Ashwin-Jadeja has dominated the decade picking up wickets 424 wickets playing together. Jadeja has ten 5-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul to his name in his 67 Tests so far. He also won the Golden Ball in the 2013 Champions Trophy which India won.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 67 | 128 | 16354 | 6620 | 275 | 7/42 | 10/110 | 2.43 | 24.07 | 59.47 | 12 | 2 |
ODI | 177 | 171 | 8827 | 7232 | 194 | 5/36 | 5/36 | 4.92 | 37.28 | 45.5 | 1 | 0 |
T20I | 64 | 62 | 1237 | 1453 | 51 | 3/15 | 3/15 | 7.05 | 28.49 | 24.25 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 226 | 197 | 3547 | 4495 | 152 | 5/16 | 5/16 | 7.6 | 29.57 | 23.34 | 1 | 0 |
JASPRIT BUMRAH
Boom Boom Bumrah as fans chant these days, Bumrah has been exceptional in the last 3-4 years and has been the best bowler of India by a big margin in the last few years. Jasprit Bumrah, who is the best bowler in India 2024 is a right-arm fast bowler having a unique action. He has an unplayable yorker, good short delivery, and plenty of variations to deceive the batsman. For tests, Bumrah also has different skills like the ability to swing the ball both ways and constantly hit the right areas helping him amass 128 test wickets in just 30 Tests played so far. Bumrah currently is the biggest and most valuable asset for the Indian team.
M | Inn | B | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Econ | Avg | SR | 5W | 10W | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Test | 30 | 58 | 6268 | 2815 | 128 | 6/27 | 9/86 | 2.69 | 21.99 | 48.97 | 8 | 0 |
ODI | 72 | 72 | 3807 | 2941 | 121 | 6/19 | 6/19 | 4.64 | 24.31 | 31.46 | 2 | 0 |
T20I | 61 | 60 | 1307 | 1440 | 72 | 3/11 | 3/11 | 6.61 | 20.0 | 18.15 | 0 | 0 |
IPL | 120 | 120 | 2742 | 3380 | 145 | 5/10 | 5/10 | 7.4 | 23.31 | 18.91 | 1 | 0 |
CONCLUSION:
There might be a number of bowlers that have not been made the list but who have been integral to Indian cricket. Ashish Nehra, RP Singh, Mohammad Shami, Munaf Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Irfan Pathan are some names to be considered who also deserve to feature in the Indian best bowler list.
*Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami might soon find a place in the top 10 of India’s best bowlers.