3 Indian bowlers with the most Test wickets in a losing cause

India are currently a force to be reckoned with in Test cricket, but this has not always been the case. In the early years of international cricket, the Indian team often found themselves behind the curve, and it took the 1983 World Cup win to effectively kick-start the love for the sport in the country.

Since then, despite their fair share of obstacles along the way, India haven't looked back. Spearheaded by the great MS Dhoni, the Men in Blue won all three ICC trophies - the World Cup in 2011, the Champions Trophy in 2013, and the T20 World Cup in 2007. Under the leadership of the Ranchi wicket-keeper, India also achieved the #1 Test ranking for the first time in their history.

In this article, we take a look at the 3 Indian bowlers with the most wickets in Test losses.

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#3 Bishan Singh Bedi

Left-arm spinner Bishan Singh Bedi's unmatched craft and guile bamboozled batsman in the 1970s

Former Indian bowler Bishan Singh Bedi took 266 wickets in just 67 Tests, with 99 of those scalps coming in Test losses. These wickets came at an average of 33.94, significantly lesser than Bedi's career bowling average of 28.71.

The left-arm spinner's best innings figures of 7/98 also came in a loss to Australia, although Bedi found adequate success against the Kangaroos and their neighbours New Zealand. Part of India's famous spin quartet, Bedi was known for his accuracy and guile, and bowled 16.35 maiden overs per Test on average, the second-highest number in Test history.

The 73-year-old even captained India in 1976, albeit without much success. Irrespective of this record, Bishan Singh Bedi is one of the greatest spinners to have ever played for the country.

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#2 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble even went on to captain the Indian team in a legendary international career

Former Indian captain Anil Kumble is the third-highest wicket-taker in Test history, so him being part of this list may not come as a surprise simply due to the sheer number of matches he has played in the whites. Over the course of 132 Tests, Kumble took 619 wickets, 124 of which came in losses.

Understandably, the team's performance was heavily reliant on their star leg-spinner, with Kumble's average of 41.35 in Test losses a far cry from his career average of 29.65. Out of the 35 5-wicket hauls Kumble took in Tests, only 5 came in losses.

Jumbo was one of India's greatest match-winners, and this fact is further evidenced by these startling numbers. Kumble also played 275 ODIs for the country, picking up 337 wickets with 2 5-wicket hauls.

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#1 Kapil Dev

1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev is one of India's greatest all-rounders and leaders

One of the country's greatest-ever captains, Kapil Dev was a shining light in a time when India were nowhere near the dominant force they are today. In 131 Test matches, he picked up 434 wickets at an average of 29.64.

But surprisingly, the all-rounder's performances in Test losses don't make for bad reading, perhaps signifying that Kapil Dev was a man who rose up to the occasion when the going got tough.

He picked up 132 wickets in Test losses at an average of 28.3, more than one point lower than his career bowling average. Kapil Dev's best figures in an innings of 9/83 also came in a defeat to the West Indies. Out of the 23 5-wicket hauls he achieved in Tests, 10 came in a losing cause.

The man from Haryana may not have been part of the greatest generation of Indian cricketers, given their lack of resources. However, Kapil Dev and his 1983 World Cup win hold a special place in Indian cricket history.

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