Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Mitchell Starc closes in on Kapil Dev's 434-wicket milestone
Mitchell Starc is a famous fast bowler who plays cricket for Australia.
He bowls very fast and tries to get batters out, which is called taking a wicket.
Starc has now taken 433 wickets in Test cricket, the longest form of the game.
Many years ago, a great Indian player named Kapil Dev took 434 Test wickets.
Kapil stopped playing in 1994, and his record stood for almost 30 years.
Starc needs just two more wickets to catch up and pass Kapil.
He will play a series against Bangladesh later this month, so he has a good chance to do it soon.
Starc says he does not think much about records while he is still playing.
He just wants to keep learning and improving as a bowler.
That is how he has stayed great for 16 years.
Mitchell Starc has 433 Test wickets in 105 Tests and needs two more to overtake Kapil Dev's tally of 434.
One wicket will draw Starc level with Kapil Dev, while two will move him ahead of the legendary former India captain.
A productive series against Bangladesh could also see Starc surpass South African great Dale Steyn's 439 Test wickets.
Kapil Dev retired in 1994 with 434 wickets from 131 Tests, India's highest tally for almost three decades until Ravichandran Ashwin overtook him.
Starc, 36, says milestones mean little while he is still playing; only Shane Warne, Nathan Lyon and Glenn McGrath have more Test wickets for Australia.
- Who
- Mitchell Starc, the 36-year-old Australian fast bowler, and Kapil Dev, India's legendary former captain and all-rounder.
- What
- Starc needs two wickets to overtake Kapil Dev's record of 434 Test wickets and climb into the top 10 on the all-time list.
- When
- During Australia's two-Test series against Bangladesh, which begins later this month; Kapil Dev retired in 1994.
- Where
- Test cricket, in Australia's upcoming series against Bangladesh.
- Why
- Starc has 433 Test wickets, just two short of Kapil Dev's long-standing benchmark, with a chance to also pass Dale Steyn's 439.
- Starc's current wickets
- 433 in 105 Tests
- Wickets needed to pass Kapil Dev
- 2
- Kapil Dev's record
- 434 wickets in 131 Tests
- Kapil Dev's retirement year
- 1994
- Dale Steyn's Test wickets
- 439
- Starc's age
- 36
- Starc's career length
- 16 years
- Australian bowlers ahead of Starc
- Shane Warne (708), Nathan Lyon (567), Glenn McGrath (563)