Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Top 5 Most Wicket Takers In A Series. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, one of the fiercest cricket rivalries between India and Australia, has certainly showcased bowlers with their efforts leading to the result of matches. Among the many unique performances that one can recall in the series, that for the highest number of wickets taken in a single series will always occupy a very special place. Let us take a closer look at those bowlers who made this ever-increasingly prestigious contest a wicket-taking contest.
1. Harbhajan Singh (2000/01) – 32 wickets
In the series in which India achieved a spectacular 2-1 series victory over Australia Harbhajan Singh took 32 wickets in three Tests. His most brilliant moment would be the Kolkata Test, where he took 13 wickets, including a hat trick, the first by an Indian bowler in Tests. 8/84 in the Chennai Test first innings is another match-winning contribution that established him as a match-turner.
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2. Ravichandran Ashwin (2012/13) – 29 wickets
In the 2012/13 series held in India, Ravichandran Ashwin emerged as the nemesis for Australia. His tally of 29 wickets went a long way in a 4-0 shove against Australia in the series. Ashwin’s off-spin was sharp-turning with the deceptive variations he would always be too good for the Australian batsmen. The best figures of 7/103 in the Chennai Test stamp Ashwin’s aptitude for collecting wickets in clusters or tilting the balance towards India.
3. Ben Hilfenhaus (2011/12) – 27 wickets
Ben Hilfenhaus has taken full advantage of seamer-friendly home conditions during the 2011/12 Australia series and thus claimed 27 wickets. Hilfenhaus, who is known to be a ball jam cracker, had a significant contribution to Australia in a 4-0 series victory over India. Timed line and length made it more trouble for Indian batsmen to acclimatize to the seam and bounce of Australian pitches.
4. Anil Kumble (2004/05) – 27 wickets
Anil Kumble Image Source: AFP
Kumble, even in the 2004/05 series, was sheer brilliance in his displays of perseverance and skill. However, the Indian team did not win the series, but among all the four Test matches played by Kumble, he took 27 wickets, with a record of 7/48 in Chennai, which represented his unmatched ability to exploit even the smallest nicks on the pitch by sheer perseverance and hard work, which made him a permanent feature of Indian cricket.
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5. Ravichandran Ashwin (2016/17) – 25 wickets
Once again, Ashwin proved his mettle like always when he took 25 wickets during the 2016/17 series. There were some tough contests in this series, and Ashwin’s contribution was a key part of India’s winning the series 2-1. Along with that was a personal touch in the form of 6/91 in the Bengaluru Test, which was his effort to help India bring the series to par after a very bad loss in Pune.
Traditionally, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has served as a battleground for some of the best bowlers to have played the game. It doesn’t matter whether you are talking about Harbhajan’s magic, Kumble’s relentless accuracy, or Ashwin’s strategic brilliance: these performances have defined the series. And given that they all start to carve their names in history, it promises to provide great matches ahead.
