The Indian cricket team under skipper Virat Kohli have established several records. Especially in the longest format since the last few years. This has helped Team India seal the number one position of the ICC World Test Rankings for Teams. India has 115 rating points and is six above second-placed New Zealand. Team India’s recent win came against the West Indies by a 2-0 margin away from home. However, India is in for a severe test as they face South Africa next in a two-match series, starting October 2. Indian Batting has been a key component of India’s show in Test cricket. Also, the current crop of pacers has produced equally strong results to make it an all-round show. Let us have a look at the statical analysis of India Test bowling records over the past 3 years.
The Indian cricket team has dominated the Test circuit since quite some time now and India Test Bowling Records certainly prove it. Looking back at the India Test Bowling Records from last three years (2017, 2018 and now 2019) there has been a strong element of consistency. But how have the bowlers shaped up? India test bowling records is considered to be at par with the best and there is an aura about the same.
Team India has played plenty of Tests in these three years. Team India has played 28 Tests in total. 11 Tests have been played at home. 14 Tests have been played outside the subcontinent. Three Tests have been played in Sri Lanka.
In 2017, India played 11 Tests in total. They won seven. In 2018, the side was involved in 14 Tests. They won seven. This year, India has played three Tests and won two. Out of these 16 Test victories, the bowling at large has been a strong factor.
Kohli’s side has stuck with the same crop of bowlers and there is that sense of trust and belonging. In this article, we will focus on India Test Bowling Records both at home and away over the last three years. Although, we will look at the players that are present in the current scheme of things. This is because these very players are set to feature in the near future and be part of the ICC World Test Championship 2019-21.
A look at India’s pace-bowling unit during this time phase
India has generally worked with a close-knit bowling quartet with Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The likes of Ishant and Shami have shared the maximum burden with 19 and 20 Test matches respectively. Both have snared up a bountiful of wickets with 66 and 77 respectively at a healthy average as well.
Then came in Bumrah. He was given his Test break against South Africa in 2018. Bumrah has seriously grown from there on and has been superb just like Australia’s Pat Cummins (number one in Test rankings). Bumrah’s average of 19.24 tells us the story. Moreover, his 62 scalps in just 12 Tests is gigantic in numbers.
Umesh has played a supporting role and has featured mainly at home. In 15 Tests, he has taken 51 scalps since 2017 at 26.17. Meanwhile, Bhuvi has been fifth in the pecking order and has been limited to just 5 Test matches. Injuries played a role too.
| Pacers | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | 5-wicket hauls |
| Ishant Sharma | 19 | 66 | 5/43 | 23.59 | 2 |
| Md Shami | 20 | 77 | 6/56 | 25.14 | 2 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 12 | 62 | 6/27 | 19.24 | 5 |
| Umesh Yadav | 15 | 51 | 6/88 | 26.17 | 1 |
| B Kumar | 5 | 21 | 4/8 | 20.66 | 0 |
Performances of the pace-bowling unit at home
At home, the domination has been done mainly by spinners. Therefore, the Indian pacers’ main impact has been away from home. However, Umesh deserves a special mention. In 10 home Tests that he featured in, he has taken 40 scalps at 22.62. Ishant and Shami haven’t performed that well with averages of 31.83 and 27.45 respectively.
Bhuvi has played just three Tests and has taken 11 scalps at 21.00. Bumrah is yet to make his debut at home.
| Pacers | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | 5-wicket hauls |
| Ishant Sharma | 7 | 18 | 3/37 | 31.83 | 0 |
| Md Shami | 3 | 11 | 4/10 | 27.45 | 0 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Umesh Yadav | 10 | 40 | 6/88 | 22.62 | 1 |
| B Kumar | 3 | 11 | 4/8 | 21.00 | 0 |
Performances of the pace-bowling unit away from home
Indians have been superb away from home especially with the India Test Bowling Records. Against South Africa, the pacers excelled despite the 2-1 series loss. Against England, the quartet did reasonably well. The main highlight came against Australia and the West Indies. The Indian pacers were superb in these two series and stepped up. Besides these series, India also played in Sri Lanka in 2017.
Shami, in particular, has been a dominant force to be reckoned with. In 17 Tests, he accumulated 66 scalps at 24.75. India’s strike bowler Ishant picked up 48 scalps in 12 Tests at 20.50. And Bumrah has played all his Tests away from home to rule the roost. Umesh hasn’t’t quite delivered away from home at an average of 39.09.
Bhuvi has played in just
| Pacers | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | 5-wicket hauls |
| Ishant Sharma | 12 | 48 | 5/43 | 20.50 | 2 |
| Md Shami | 17 | 66 | 6/56 | 24.75 | 2 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 12 | 62 | 6/27 | 19.24 | 5 |
| Umesh Yadav | 5 | 11 | 3/76 | 39.09 | 0 |
| B Kumar | 2 | 10 | 4/87 | 20.30 | 0 |
A look at India’s spin-bowling unit during this time phase
The Indian spinners led by R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have faired well in this time phase. They have bossed the matches especially with dictating performances and records at home. Away as well, the two have been sharp especially at SENA. Ashwin has 94 wickets in 21 games at 26.69. Jadeja has 87 scalps in 18 Tests at 23.66.
Kuldeep Yadav has been handed six Tests in this period. He has a strong tally of 24 scalps at 24.12.
| Spinners | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | 5-wicket hauls |
| R Ashwin | 21 | 94 | 6/41 | 26.69 | 2 |
| R Jadeja | 18 | 87 | 6/63 | 23.66 | 3 |
| K Yadav | 6 | 24 | 5/57 | 24.12 | 2 |
Performances of the spin-bowling unit at home
As expected, India’s spinners have dominated the situation at home. Ashwin and Jadeja have played 22 Tests between them and the wicket-tally has been almost identical. Jadeja has 54 scalps from 11 Tests at 19.33. Ashwin has taken 53 wickets at 25.37. Left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep has featured in three Tests and has picked up 14 wickets.
| Spinners | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | 5-wicket hauls |
| R Ashwin | 11 | 53 | 6/41 | 25.37 | 1 |
| R Jadeja | 11 | 54 | 6/63 | 19.33 | 2 |
| K Yadav | 3 | 14 | 5/57 | 24.28 | 1 |
Performances of the spin-bowling unit away from home
Away from home, Jadeja sees a Starc increase in his average. In 7 Tests, he has 33 scalps at 30.75. 13 of them came in Sri Lanka in 2017. In four Tests he has 20 outside the subcontinent.
The same is with Ashwin. He has 41 scalps from 10 matches at 28.39. 17 of those wickets came against Lanka. The rest 24 wickets in SA, England and Australia came in 7 Tests.
Kuldeep has featured in three Tests outside India. He has 10 scalps with a best of 5/99 at 23.90. He has done an able job.
| Spinners | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | 5-wicket hauls |
| R Ashwin | 10 | 41 | 5/69 | 28.39 | 1 |
| R Jadeja | 7 | 33 | 5/152 | 30.75 | 1 |
| K Yadav | 3 | 10 | 5/99 | 24.28 | 1 |
Conclusion
India Test Bowling Records numbers are pretty sound when it comes to bowling. At home, spinners have done well to boss the scenario. Away from home, they have supported the pacers. Ashwin and Jadeja continue to be the main pillars of strength.
The pacers, in particular, deserve all the plaudits. They have done exceptionally well especially in SENA. That has helped Team India win Tests outside. Also, to get 20 wickets in a Test regularly has helped Kohli’s men to gain a stronghold. If India is to do well in the World Test Championship, the pacers will play a serious role.
Also, someone like a Hardik Pandya has chipped in as the fourth pacer of the side. He has fared decently and will continue to grow. The all-rounder is an important member of this site.