India will shortly face a three match ODI series against Australia which will be played between October 19 and October 25. The initial match will be played in Perth and then there will be matches in Adelaide and Sydney. It will also be the revival of the senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli who will be back in action after the champions trophy in India.
So far, teams have played 99 ODIs in Australia, with 40 wins, 53 losses, two ties, and four no-results. Specifically, India has faced Australia 54 times, winning 14 matches, losing 38, and drawing two. These statistics highlight how challenging the conditions have been for both Indian bowlers and batters.
Fans are eagerly waiting to see how the Indian bowling unit performs in the upcoming India vs Australia ODI series. Over the years, several Indian bowlers have made their mark with outstanding spells on Australian pitches. This piece highlights the five Indian bowlers who have taken the most wickets in ODIs played in Australia.
5. Roger Binny
Roger Binny, the former Indian all-rounder is placed at number five in the list of the Indian bowlers who have the highest number of wickets in the ODIs at Australia. He made 28 wickets out of 24 matches at an average of 25.96 with an economy rate of 4.27. He gave two unforgettable four-wicket matches in his Down Under visit.
The best performances of Binny featured in the 1985 Benson and Heds tours. His highest score in Pakistan was 4/35 in Melbourne and 4/41 in Perth/New Zealand. Umesh Yadav too has 28 wickets in Australia with a higher average and economy and this makes Binny ahead.
4. Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri having an all-round ability also did not fail to impress the ball in Australian conditions. He selected 29 wickets in 28 ODIs with an average of 29.41 and a clean economy of 3.61. His skill to spin with his left arm allowed him to be an instrumental bowler to India in the 1980s.
In 1991, Shastri took the best bowling of 5 against Australia and enabled India to win the match by a massive margin of 107 runs in Perth. He also created a 30 run fine spell of 3 against England in the 1985 Benson and Hedges world championship of cricket.
3. Javagal Srinath
Javagal Srinath ranks third among India’s best pacers, with 31 wickets in 23 ODIs in Australia. He maintained an average of 27.90 and an economy rate of 4.45, using his pace and bounce effectively on Australian pitches.
Srinath delivered his best performances in the 2000 Carlton & United Series, claiming 4 for 30 against Australia and 4 for 49 against Pakistan in Brisbane. His consistent displays established him as one of India’s most reliable bowlers overseas.
2. Irfan Pathan
Left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan holds the second position with 33 wickets in 24 matches in Australia. He maintained an economy rate of 5.48 and an average of 31.93. Known for his swing and accuracy, Irfan often gave India early breakthroughs during powerplays.
| Player | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy | BBI | 4w | 5w |
| Kapil Dev | 42 | 57 | 21.84 | 3.34 | 4-30 | 2 | 0 |
| Irfan Pathan | 24 | 33 | 31.93 | 5.48 | 4-24 | 2 | 0 |
| Javagal Srinath | 23 | 31 | 27.90 | 4.45 | 4.30 | 2 | 0 |
| Ravi Shastri | 28 | 29 | 29.41 | 3.61 | 5-15 | 0 | 1 |
| Roger Binny | 24 | 28 | 25.96 | 4.26 | 4-35 | 2 | 0 |
His best bowling figure was four wickets against Zimbabwe at Perth in the 2004 VB Series. In the same season, he scored 41 runs off 41 balls against Australia in Adelaide, proving his ability to perform under pressure.
1. Kapil Dev
All rounder and legend Kapil Dev leads the chart with 57 wickets in 42 ODs in Australia. He had a very good average of 21.84 and economy rate of 3.34 which went to demonstrate his command and consistency with the new ball.
Kapil’s most successful game came in Melbourne in 1986, when he bowled brilliantly to take four wickets for 30 runs and led India to victory against Australia. In 1991, he picked up four wickets for 54 runs in Adelaide against the West Indies and played a crucial role in India’s narrow 10-run win.
