Top three highest wicket-takers for India in a single edition of Border Gavaskar Trophy

Watching a Test series between India and Australia has always been a mouth-watering spectacle. From marvelous batting performances to outstanding bowling displays, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has never failed to disappoint the fans. It started with a one-off Test match in 1996-97, with India winning it by seven wickets. Since then, the two teams have locked horns in 16 editions and India won nine times. For the last four Border-Gavaskar Trophy editions, India have had the wood over Australia, winning on all four occasions, until Australia took the trophy home after winning the, recently concluded, series 3-1.  

Over the years, we have seen some sensational batting performances from India in the tournament. But, that being said, the bowlers too have contributed massively to India’s success. It’s a matter of pride to know the fact that India’s fast bowling unit has largely improved in the recent decade. India have managed to beat Australia in Australia twice in 2018-19 and 2020-21 and their fast bowling Arsenal deserves a lot of credit for that.

From Harbhajan Singh’s remarkable performance in 2001 to Bumrah’s sensational piece of fast bowling in 2024-25, we have indeed come a long way. On that note, let’s take a look at India's top three bowlers with the most wickets in a single edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. 

Top three highest wicket-takers for India in a single Border Gavaskar Trophy edition: 

1. Jasprit Bumrah- 32 wickets 

In the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, the world saw a phenomenal performance from an Indian fast bowler on Australian shores. Be it Perth or Adelaide, Brisbane or Melbourne, Bumrah wreaked havoc with the ball. His outstanding bowling display in the first Test helped India take an early lead in the series. He continued the fine work in Adelaide and was phenomenal at Gabba, where he picked a six-for. 

Despite receiving less support from his peers, Jasprit Bumrah made life difficult in Melbourne and also in the final Test in Sydney. He claimed nine wickets in Melbourne and India could have won the Sydney Test had Bumrah not got injured on the fourth day of play. Despite not bowling in the final innings of the Test series, Jasprit Bumrah ended up picking as many as 32 wickets- the most by an Indian fast bowler in a Test series in Australia. 

2. Harbhajan Singh - 32 wickets 

Before Bumrah, Harbhajan Singh held the record for over two decades as he picked as many as 32 wickets in a Test series vs Australia. In just a three-match home Test series in 2001, Harbhajan Singh scalped a record 32 scalps. During this series, the world got to see a star in the making, named Harbhajan Singh. Australia outclassed India in the first Test, registering a 10-wicket win. Singh picked four wickets in that Test but this was followed with a sensational performance in the second Test at Eden Gardens. 

Harbhajan Singh picked a seven-wicket haul and followed with a six-for in the second innings. Courtesy of his sensational performance, India won the Test match by 171 runs and leveled the series 1-1. In the decider, the Turbanator, once again, ran through Australia’s batting as he claimed seven wickets in their first essay followed by an eight-wicket haul in the second innings. India, eventually, won the game by two wickets and took the series 2-1. 

3. Ravichandran Ashwin- 29 wickets

India’s veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin called it quits from international cricket midway during the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His performance in Australia isn't noteworthy, however, Ashwin was India’s go-to spinner in home conditions for more than a decade. 

His sensational performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2013 was a work of art. For the first time in Test cricket history, Australia suffered a 4-0 whitewash vs India, thanks to an outstanding spin-bowling display from Ravichandran Ashwin. 

He finished with 29 wickets in four Tests with a remarkable average of 20.1, including four five-wicket hauls.