The Ranji Trophy has been a cornerstone of Indian cricket, pivotal in nurturing extraordinary talent for the national team since its inception. This prestigious domestic tournament has gained increased attention in recent years, as several seasoned international players now participate to refine their skills and adapt to Indian conditions, ensuring they stay grounded in their fundamentals. Recently, prominent players such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ravindra Jadeja have been among those who have used the Ranji Trophy as a platform to fine-tune their game.

While the spotlight often shines on the batters, bowlers have also made invaluable contributions to the tournament’s legacy. Legendary pacers and spinners have honed their craft in Ranji Trophy matches, developing the skills and temperament required to thrive in high-pressure scenarios. The tournament has produced iconic bowlers who have dominated domestic circuits and gone on to represent India with distinction on the global stage. That said, here we look at the top five bowlers who have scalped the most number of wickets across the whole timeline of the Ranji Trophy.

1. Rajinder Goel (637 Wickets)

Late Rajinder Goel, the left-arm spinner from Haryana, seals the first position of scalping the most number of wickets in this well-known Indian first-class domestic tournament. Representing over five teams (Delhi/Haryana/Patiala/Southern Punjab) in his 1958-85 career timeline, he has taken a colossal 637 wickets in just a mere 219 innings. These numbers are backed by an average of 17, 53 five-wicket hauls (5W) and 17 ten-wickets-in-a-match (10WM).