The Indian Test team ended the year 2022 on a positive note, with a 2-0 win over Bangladesh, and consolidating their second position in the WTC points table.
However, there were some big opportunities missed overseas. After winning last year’s Boxing Day Test against South Africa in 2021, India lost the next two Tests, failing to get their first Test series win in South Africa. The hosts chase down 240 and 212 to secure a comeback series win.
India defeated Sri Lanka 2-0 at home, but went down to England, who made a record chase of 378. The Indian bowlers had their shining moments only here and there, but failure to bowl South Africa and England out in those 4th innings losses remains hurtful.
Here are India’s top Test wicket-takers in 2022:
Jasprit Bumrah – 22 wickets
Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah finishes as India’s top-wicket taker in 2022 with 22 scalps in 5 Tests at an average of only 20. Bumrah took two five-wicket hauls- in the first innings in Cape Town and in Bangalore against Sri Lanka. He missed the Bangladesh Tests due to injury.
Ravichandran Ashwin – 20 wickets
R Ashwin bagged 20 wickets in 6 Tests this year at an average of 27 and the best innings figure of 4/47; surprisingly, Ashwin couldn’t get a single Test five-for this year, despite playing 4 Tests in Asian conditions; he, though, took 3 four-wicket hauls in these 4 Tests.
Ashwin was largely non-threatening in the two Tests this year in South Africa, picking just 1 wickets in those 2 Tests, and wasn’t included in the Edgbaston Test.
Mohammed Shami – 13 wickets
Senior pacer Mohammed Shami endured a tough year with 13 wickets in 5 Tests in 2022. He picked up 6 wickets in 2 Tests this year in South Africa, and 2 wickets in Edgbaston, and 5 wickets in 2 Tests vs Sri Lanka; Shami missed the Bangladesh tour due to injury.
Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur – 11 wickets
Axar Patel played 2 Tests vs Bangladesh and one Test vs Sri Lanka, remaining effective in spinning conditions as he took 11 wickets in 3 Tests at an average of 22 with a best of 4/77. Axar’s economy of 2.77 also was crucial in not leaking runs.
Shardul Thakur recorded his best first-class bowling and the best by an Indian in South Africa when he returned with 7/61 in Johannesburg. After that, though, Thakur managed only 4 wickets in the next 5 innings across the Tests in South Africa and England. He was needed to play in Asian conditions as India didn’t need a fourth seamer.
Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Siraj – 10 wickets
After missing the South Africa tour due to injury, in 3 Tests this year – 2 vs Sri Lanka and 1 vs England – Jadeja snapped up 10 wickets at 21 with a best of 5/41 vs Sri Lanka in Mohali. He took 9 wickets alone in that Mohali game, but managed just 1 more in the next two, before missing the Bangladesh tour.
Siraj had an ascend in his career in 2021, but fell flat in 2022 with 10 wickets in 4 Tests at an average of 39 and a worring economy of 4.15. He went wicketless in Johannesburg, took a 4-for in the first innings in Edgbaston but was hammered in the second innings.
