The five-match Test series between India and Australia officially begins in Perth on Friday, November 22. As IND vs AUS Test series progresses, several Indian players are set to make history.
While Virat Kohli looks to break records in the batting department, Jasprit Bumrah has the chance to achieve a mega milestone in bowling. He is on the verge of becoming the Indian bowler with the most Test wickets in Australia, surpassing World Cup winner Kapil Dev in the process.
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Kapil Dev currently holds the record for most wickets by an Indian bowler in Australia, with 51 wickets in 11 Test matches. Jasprit Bumrah is just a few steps away from breaking this record. Having taken 32 wickets in 7 Test matches on Australian soil, Bumrah is only 20 wickets shy of surpassing Kapil Dev’s tally and creating a new benchmark.
The upcoming IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy will feature five Test matches, offering Jasprit Bumrah a golden chance to etch his name in history. To surpass Kapil Dev’s record, Bumrah needs to take 20 wickets in 10 innings, a feat that could be made easier by the fast bowler-friendly conditions in Australia.
Currently, Kapil Dev holds the top spot with 51 wickets, followed by Anil Kumble with 49 and R Ashwin with 39. Bishan Singh Bedi is fourth with 35 wickets, while Bumrah sits fifth with 32 wickets. Other notable Indian bowlers with 31 wickets each on Australian soil include Erapalli Prasanna, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Ishant Sharma.
Historically, Australia has begun Border-Gavaskar Test series at Brisbane’s Gabba, but this year, the action will start in Perth.
Perth’s Optus Stadium made its Test debut during 2018-19 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where Australia won. Since then, Australia has won all four Test matches played at this venue. While fast bowlers often thrive on this pitch, spinners like Nathan Lyon have also delivered strong performances. With an average first innings score of 456, it is clear that posting big totals will be key to success at this ground.