Who is the highest wicket-taker in the India vs England Tests since 1932?

As the two teams clash for the newly inaugurated Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, it's the perfect moment to look back at the top wicket-takers in this historic fixture.

The India vs England Test rivalry is one of cricket’s oldest and most storied battles, dating back to 1932. Over the decades, it has seen many iconic performances with the ball, from legendary spinners weaving magic on turning tracks to fast bowlers delivering fiery spells in swinging conditions.  As the two teams clash once again for the newly inaugurated Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy, it’s the perfect moment to look back at the top wicket-takers in this historic fixture. These bowlers have not only dominated across different eras but have also played pivotal roles in shaping the outcomes of series both in India and England. Here’s a look at the most prolific wicket-takers in India–England Test history, spanning generations of match-winning spells. 

 

 

Most wickets in India vs England Test series
Rank	Player	Country	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Avg	Econ	SR	4w	5w	10w
1	JM Anderson	ENG	2006–2024	39	73	8318	1386.2	375	3796	149	5/20	25.47	2.73	55.82	7	6	-
2	R Ashwin	IND	2012–2024	24	45	6383	1063.5	171	3161	114	6/55	27.72	2.97	55.99	3	8	1
3	BS Chandrasekhar	IND	1964–1979	23	38	6199	1033.1	249	2591	95	8/79	27.27	2.5	65.25	3	8	-
4	A Kumble	IND	1990–2007	19	36	6434	1072.2	258	2815	92	7/115	30.59	2.62	69.93	4	4	1
5	BS Bedi	IND	1967–1979	22	36	7173	1195.3	373	2539	85	6/71	29.87	2.12	84.38	5	4	-
6	N Kapil Dev	IND	1979–1993	27	48	6343	1057.1	227	3174	85	6/91	37.34	3	74.62	2	4	-
7	SCJ Broad	ENG	2008–2022	24	43	4374	729	188	2110	74	6/25	28.51	2.89	59.1	4	2	-
8	RA Jadeja	IND	2012–2024	20	37	5300	883.2	183	2280	70	7/48	32.57	2.58	75.71	3	2	1
9	I Sharma	IND	2008–2021	23	37	4302	717	147	2171	67	7/74	32.4	3.02	64.2	2	2	-
10	RGD Willis	ENG	1974–1982	17	30	2941	490.1	96	1441	62	6/53	23.24	2.93	47.43	1	3	-

 

  Most wickets by Indian bowlers vs England in Tests (On English soil) 

Top 5 Indian Wicket-Takers in England (Tests)
Rank	Player	Span	Matches	Innings	Wickets	Best Bowling (Innings)	Bowling Average
1	Ishant Sharma	2007–2021	13	22	48	7/74 (Lord’s 2014)	~33.00
2	Kapil Dev	1979–1990s	13	22	43	6/91	~34.60
3	Jasprit Bumrah	2018–2021	10	16	40	5/64	23.6
4	Anil Kumble	1990–2007	11	19	36	7/115	30.59
5	Bishan Singh Bedi	1967–1979	12	18	35	6/71	29.87

 

1. Ishant Sharma – 48 Wickets

Ishant Sharma leads the list of Indian wicket-takers in England with 48 wickets in 22 innings. His standout moment came at Lord’s in 2014, where he delivered a fiery spell of 7/74, earning the Player of the Match. Known for exploiting English conditions with bounce and seam, Ishant has been India’s pace spearhead in numerous away tours.

 

2. Kapil Dev – 43 Wickets

India’s first World Cup-winning captain, Kapil Dev, was instrumental in India’s 1986 series win in England. A crafty swing bowler and a dependable all-rounder, Kapil picked up 43 wickets in 22 innings, showcasing his knack for rising to the occasion in English conditions.

 

3. Jasprit Bumrah – 40 Wickets

Modern pace ace Jasprit Bumrah has claimed 40 wickets in just 16 innings, including 21 wickets at an average of 22.47 on the 2021 tour and he has already bagged 3 wickets in the 1st Test this year. His lethal pace, unorthodox action, and accuracy make him a key weapon, though the management may rotate him during the current five-Test series.

 

4. Anil Kumble – 36 Wickets

Legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble took 36 wickets in 19 innings. His county stint with Northamptonshire sharpened his skills for English conditions. Kumble also contributed with the bat, scoring a century in the 2007 series and playing a pivotal role in India’s historic Test win at Headingley in 2002.

 

5. Bishan Singh Bedi – 35 Wickets

One of the finest left-arm spinners in cricket history, Bishan Singh Bedi claimed 35 wickets in 18 innings in England. A member of India’s famed spin quartet of the 1970s, Bedi’s most memorable performance came with a six-wicket haul at Lord’s, earning him a spot on the honors board.