Anil Kumble – Harbhajan (Twitter)
The MA Chidambaram Stadium, the second-oldest stadium in the country located at a distance of a couple of hundred meters from the Marina beach along the Bay of Bengal, has been witness to many spectacular matches in the past.
The Indian men’s team has won 15 Tests, drawn 11, lost seven, and tied one at the Chepauk.
Ahead of the 35th Test that it will be hosting against Bangladesh in a week’s time, let us take a look at the three players with the most number of wickets in Tests at this venue.
Also Check: Top 3 knocks of Virat Kohli at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai
Here are the 3 bowlers who have taken the most wickets in Tests at MA Chidambaram Stadium –
3) Kapil Dev
Probably one of the best all-rounders produced by India, Kapil Dev was one of those who changed the dynamics of Indian cricket forever.
The Haryana Hurricane picked up a total of 40 wickets in the 11 Tests he played at the Chepauk (more than 8% of the Tests played in his career) with a couple of four-wicket hauls and as many five-fors.
For a fast-medium bowler to end up with a strike rate of 46.57 at a venue which is not all that conducive for pacers is a remarkable achievement. Interestingly, Kapil’s overall average is significantly greater at 63.9. So, the Chepauk could be well and truly attributed as a happy hunting ground for the Chandigarh-born maestro.
Also Check: Top Run-Scorers in Tests at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
2) Harbhajan Singh
The Turbanator aka Bhajji was one of the most passionate players India ever produced. Playing in an era which was dominated by prolific wristspinners, flat pitches favourable for batting and bats which were slowly but gradually getting bigger and sweeter for efficient strokeplay, Harbhajan Singh made the cricketing stage his own with a windmilling action.
Out of the three on the list, Harbhajan was the one who bowled the most number of overs in the red-ball format at Chepauk. With 42 wickets to his name in just seven matches, Harbhajan sits second on this particular list.
One of the best bowling performances of Harbhajan’s career came at this stadium in the third and final Test against Australia. The then 21-year-old Harbhajan’s match figures of 15/217 scripted a famous series victory after going down flat in the first game at the Wankhede Stadium by 10 wickets.
Also Check: Top 3 iconic Test matches at M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai
1) Anil Kumble
Arguably one of the most gritty and intelligent bowlers the game has ever witnessed, Anil Kumble leads the way with 48 wickets, six more than Harbhajan having bowled 409 fewer deliveries.
What makes this accomplishment even more remarkable is the fact that 23.97% of the overs Kumble bowled at the Chepauk were maidens. A couple of four-wicket hauls and five instances of securing five dismissals in an innings are a testament to the fact that the venue is one of Kumble’s best in terms of statistical value.
His tireless outing under the scorching heat, bowling 64.3 overs and scalping 13 dismissals across both innings against Australia in the historic 2004 series was the main reason India didn’t end up conceding a 0-2 lead to the visitors after the first two fixtures of the four-match series.