Though the batsmen take most of the glory in the game of Test cricket, thanks to being more stylish and getting more time at the wicket, it is a universal fact that to win a Test, you need to pick up 20 wickets and that’s why bowlers also share some of the glamour associated with cricket.

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Taking a 5 wicket haul in a Test innings is a mighty impressive feat. Bowling half the side out all by yourself will make any bowler proud of themselves and it immensely helps the team. And to constantly pick five wicket hauls is a big thing for bowlers and we have for you 5 such Indian bowlers with most five wicket hauls in an innings to their name in Test cricket.

Check out the top 5 Indian bowlers with most five wicket hauls in an innings in Tests

5. BHAGWATH CHANDRASHEKHAR (1964-1979)
M: 58| Wkts: 242|BBI: 8/79|BBM: 12/104 | 5 W/Inns: 16

Probably the holder of the tag of the greatest leg spinner India produced along with Anil Kumble; Bhagwath Chandrashekhar overcame a major physical disability to realize his dream of playing cricket. He picked up 242 wickets in 58 Tests for India with 16 wicket hauls to his name in a chequered career.  

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Born in Mysore, Karnataka, Chandrashekhar battled an attack of polio as an infant, which left his right arm withered and much less muscular than his left arm. However, he compensated for the strength by developing a whippy action, where he delivered the ball from a long run up at almost medium pace. His sharp googlies, spiteful topspinners and legbreaks left the best of the best batsmen bamboozled.

He was the hero of India’s first ever Test series win in England against the hosts in 1971 at the Oval. He picked 6/38 at the ground to ensure that India won its first ever series. He also picked 12/104 at Melbourne in Australia, to give India its first win down under.

Chandra, as he was known by his peers, also holds the record for taking more wickets than scoring runs in his Test career; 242 wickets and 167 runs in 58 Tests.

4. KAPIL DEV (1978-1994)
M: 131 | Wkts: 434 |BBI: 9/83|BBM: 11/146| 5 W/Inns: 23

Kapil Dev was India’s first true fast bowler, after the likes of Amar Singh and Mohammad Nissar terrorized the English batsmen during India’s Test debut in 1932 in England. He played 131 Tests and picked up a then record 434 wickets in Tests along with 23 five wicket hauls to his name and a best bowling figures of 9/83.

Kapil Dev came as a boon to Indian cricket fans, which had witnessed the spin quartet; operate from basically the first over and seeing the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Eknath Solkar opening the bowling for India. Born in Chandigarh, Kapil Dev played for Haryana in domestic cricket and made his debut against Pakistan in 1978 in Faisalabad.

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He went on to become the greatest all-rounder India ever produced and greatest fast bowler for India during times, when he was the lone quick for India. He never missed a Test due to fitness issues and was dropped for just one Test as a punishment.

In his biggest achievement for the nation, Kapil captained India to the World Cup triumph in 1983 and to the semi-finals of the 1987 World Cup. For his achievements, Kapil was named as the Indian cricketer of the century Wisden Indian Cricketer of the Century Award, piping the likes of Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar to the laurels.

3. HARBHAJAN Singh (1998-)
M: 103| Wkts: 417|BBI: 8/84|BBM: 15/217| 5 W/Inns: 25

Harbhajan Singh has played 103 Tests with 417 wickets to his name with a best of 8/84 and 25 five wicket hauls to his name.

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Harbhajan Singh battled doubts of an illegal action all his career and after getting cleared from ICC, went on to become one of the greatest off-spinners India has ever seen. His biggest moment came during the India-Australia Border Gavaskar Trophy in 2001, when he was left to shoulder the Indian bowling alone with both Anil Kumble and Javagal Srinath out of the team with injuries.

Harbhajan came out with flying colors, picking up 32 wickets in 3 Tests, including the first ever hat-trick by an Indian bowler in Tests and etched his name in the history of Test cricket. He is handy with the bat too, scoring 2224 runs with 2 back to back centuries against New Zealand and a best of 115.

He was also a part of India’s 2011 World Cup winning squad.

2. R ASHWIN (2011-)
M: 52| Wkts: 292|BBI: 7/59|BBM: 13/140| 5 W/Inns: 26

One of the best modern spinners on the planet, R Ashwin is rewriting the record book with 292 wickets in just 52 Tests. His best bowling has been 7/59 and he has picked up 26 five wicket hauls in his career so far.

Ashwin came into prominence with the Chennai Super Kings team in IPL 2010. He also played a handful of games during India’s 2011 World Cup winning tournament and finally made his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies at Delhi. He is pretty handy with the bat and comes in at no.6 for India in Tests and has 2035 runs to his name with 4 Test hundreds.

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His best moment came against South Africa in Nov-Dec 2015, when he picked up 31 wickets in India’s 3-0 win at home. He is criticized for his ineffectiveness on foreign pitches and once went wicketless for 36 overs against South Africa in Johannesburg in December 2013, as the Proteas almost chased down 458 runs for victory.

But he captured his glorious form again and is a permanent fixture in the longer format for India.

1. ANIL KUMBLE (1990-2008)
M: 132| Wkts: 619|BBI: 10/74|BBM: 14/149| 5 W/Inns: 35

Probably the greatest spinner India has ever produced; the formerly bespectacled Anil Kumble is respected all over the world for his skill and his brave spirit.

Kumble played 132 Tests in an 18 year career, which began against England in 1990 and picked a record 619 wickets with 35 five wicket hauls. He is also one of the two bowlers, the other been Jim Laker, to pick all 10 wickets in an innings of a Test, a feat he achieved against Pakistan in Delhi in 1999.

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Anil Kumble kept bowling and bowling until he got his captain a breakthrough and more often than not, he continuously and tirelessly bowled throughout the day in hopes of wickets on unhelpful pitches. He epitomized his skill and valor, when he bowled with a broken jaw at Kingston in 2002 for his team.

His biggest personal achievement came when he fulfilled his lifelong dream of scoring a Test century, as he scored a brilliant 110 against England at the Oval in 2007, something he waited for 118 Tests at that time.