The World Test Championship has certainly given a new lease of life to the purest format of cricket. With the crown of being the ultimate champions in the format being at stake, the teams now have got something to play for in every match. India are currently at the top of the Championship table having won seven out of their nine matches so far and the credit for this success should be given as much to the bowlers as much it is given to its world class batsmen. That said, let’s take a look at the highest wicket-takers among Indians in the contest so far.
Mohammed Shami
The Indian speedster has been a force to reckon with in all formats since last year and it is no surprise that he has lit up the World Test Championship with his bowling too. Shami is the highest wicket-taker for India in the contest so far with 36 wickets to his name at an outstanding average of 18.63. His wickets include one five-wicket haul which came against South Africa at Visakhapatnam in October last year. He has picked up his wickets at an interval of every 37 deliveries and that is an excellent striking rate for a fast bowler.
Ishant Sharma
Mohammad Shami may be the highest wicket-taker for India during this period but Ishant Sharma has fared much better in terms of quality than him. The tall pacer has picked up 30 wickets in this contest so far but has done that at a far better average and strike-rate of 15.50 and 31.8 respectively than Shami. He has done so while bowling only 159 overs and has registered three 5-wicket hauls in that as well. His best figures were 5 for 22 against Bangladesh at Kolkata in November last year whereas his other to 5-fers came against West Indies and New Zealand in North Sound and Wellington respectively.
Umesh Yadav
The third bowler in the list is yet another pacer and he is Umesh Yadav. The Vidarbha Express has played far lesser number of matches (5) in the Championship as compared to Shami and Ishant thus far. But that hasn’t stopped him from climbing to three third spot among highest wicket-takers for India. Umesh has taken 25 wickets during this period at a sensational average of 16.20 and his strike-rate of 28.9 is far better than that of the other two Indian pacers.
Written by : Prasenjit Dey
