Is Ravindra Jadeja India's best left-arm bowler ever?

When elite allrounder Ravi Jadeja returned figures of three for 57 against Sri Lanka , he did more than just put India in a commanding position. By reaching 351 wickets, he became the first Indian left-arm bowler to pass the magical 350 Test wicket mark. This fine achievement makes him the leading left-arm wicket-taker in the history of Indian cricket. For a nation with such a prolific bowling history, it is a massive surprise to discover that only nine lefties in total have ever managed 100 or more Test wickets. If you are struggling to name them, here’s our list of the nine most prolific Indian left armers of all time. Ravi Jadeja (351 Wickets) Ravi Jadeja sits alone at the summit of Indian left-arm bowling history. Since making his debut in 2012, Jadeja has played 90 Tests and taken 351 wickets. His outstanding average of 25.06 is the best on this list. Jadeja combines rapid pace through the air with unerring accuracy, giving batsmen absolutely no room to breathe and securing his status as a modern legend. Zaheer Khan (311 Wickets) Zaheer Khan is universally acknowledged as the man who revolutionized modern Indian fast bowling. His illustrious career stretched from 2000 to 2014, encompassing 92 Test matches. Zaheer took 311 wickets at an average of 32.94. His mastery over the old ball and his unmatched ability to reverse swing it made him a lethal weapon in all playing conditions, especially on flat subcontinent tracks. Also read: Masterful milestones – the 7 highest Test scores against Australia down under since 2000 Bishan Bedi (266 Wickets) Bishan Bedi is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful and poetic spin bowlers to ever play the game. As a vital member of India’s famous spin quartet between 1966 and 1979, Bedi played 67 Tests. He captured 266 wickets at a superb average of 28.71. His bowling was a masterclass in deception, using subtle changes in pace and trajectory rather than big turn to outsmart the world’s best batsmen. Vinoo Mankad (162 Wickets) Vinoo Mankad stands as one of the founding fathers of Indian cricket excellence. Active from 1946 to 1959, Mankad was a genuine match-winner who participated in 44 Test matches. He collected 162 wickets at an outstanding average of 32.32. Mankad was famous for his incredible stamina, often bowling marathon spells that laid the groundwork for India’s earliest historic victories on the world stage. Ravi Shastri (151 Wickets) Before he became a famous commentator and national team coach, Ravi Shastri was a formidable allrounder on the pitch. Playing from 1981 to 1992, Shastri featured in 80 Test matches for his country. His left-arm orthodox spin brought him 151 wickets at an average of 40.96. Shastri excelled at playing a restrictive role, drying up runs at one end to build intense pressure on opposing batsmen. Dilip Doshi (114 Wickets) Dilip Doshi is a unique figure in Indian cricket history because he made his Test debut at the advanced age of 32. Despite his late start, Doshi made a significant impact between 1979 and 1983. He played 33 Test matches and secured 114 wickets with an average of 30.71. His relentless accuracy and clever variations proved that age is no barrier to international success. Pragyan Ojha (113 Wickets) Pragyan Ojha enjoyed a highly impactful though relatively brief international career between 2009 and 2013. The classical left-arm spinner played 24 Tests and claimed 113 wickets at an impressive average of 30.26. Ojha relied on subtle flight and sharp turn to deceive batsmen. He formed a lethal bowling partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin during the early 2010s before fading from the national setup. Karsan Ghavri (109 Wickets) Karsan Ghavri was a pioneer for Indian pace bowling during an era completely dominated by spin. Playing 39 Test matches between 1974 and 1981, Ghavri provided crucial breakthroughs with his brisk left-arm seam. He captured 109 wickets at an average of 33.54. His ability to bowl both genuine quick deliveries and accurate left-arm spin made him an invaluable asset to his captains. Irfan Pathan (100 Wickets) Irfan Pathan burst onto the international scene as a teenager with immense swing and incredible promise. Operating between 2003 and 2008, the left-arm paceman quickly became a household name. He managed exactly 100 Test wickets in his 29 matches, maintaining a bowling average of 32.26. Pathan is fondly remembered for his historic first-over hat-trick against Pakistan, which cemented his legacy as one of India’s most naturally gifted swing bowlers. Read next: A tale of two timelines – Bangladesh’s golden dawn and Australia’s creaking sunset