Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin added another feather to his illustrious Test career during Day 2 of the ongoing third Test against England at Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on Friday, Feburary 16.
Ashwin has become the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to complete 500 wickets in Test cricket history. Overall, the 37-year-old is just the ninth bowler to accomplish the milestone in the longest format of the game. Chennai-born Ashwin entered the 500 Test wickets club when he dismissed Zak Crawley in the 14th over of England's batting.
Most Test wickets:
Muttiah Muralitharan - 800
Shane Warne - 708
James Anderson - 695*
Anil Kumble - 619
Stuart Broad - 604
Glenn McGrath - 563
Courtney Walsh - 519
Nathan Lyon - 517
R Ashwin - 500*
Ravichandran Ashwin has become the fastest Indian and the second quickest overall after former Sri Lanka spin bowling legend Muthiah Muralitharan to complete 500 Test wickets. Muralitharan achieved this feat in 87 matches while Ashwin did so in 98 matches. Muralitharan and Ashwin are the only player till now to scalp 500 wickets in less than 100 Test matches.
Apart from 500 Test wickets, Ashwin also achieved an unique Indian record in the format. The all-rounder has become the first Indian player to score 3000 runs and 500 wickets in Test Cricket history.
R Ashwin made a vital contribution with bat in India's first innings
Ravichandran Ashwin is not just known for his bowling brilliance but also makes crucial contribution with his willow when the team needed him the most. This was evident during the India's first innings batting on Day 2.
When India were stumbled at 331/7 after quick dismissals of Kuldeep Yadav (6) and Ravindra Jadeja (112), Ashwin walked out of bat and formed a crucial 77-run partnership with the debutant Dhruv Jurel to take India 400-run mark in first innings.
Ashwin's innings came to end after spinner Rehan Ahmed dismissed him for 37 at 408/8. Then, Jurel fell just four runs short of his maiden fifty as he was removed by Ahmed for 46 at 415.
After Jurel's dismissal, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj added 39 runs to India's total before the former was trapped LBW by Mark Wood, finishing India's first innings with 445 all-out.
