Ravichandran Ashwin becomes the oldest Indian bowler to pick a 5-wicket haul; breaks a 68-year-old record

Ravichandran Ashwin etched his name into the history books by becoming the oldest Indian player to take a five-wicket haul in Tests.

The Indian off-spinner was on fire both with the bat and ball in the first Test, which the hosts won by 280 runs against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

At 38 years and 5 days old, Ashwin became the oldest Indian cricketer to take a five-wicket haul in Test matches.

He broke the previous record held by Vinoo Mankad, who achieved the feat at 37 years and 307 days against Pakistan in Peshawar back in 1955.

Ravichandran Ashwin becomes oldest Indian to take 5-wicket haul in Tests

Ravichandran Ashwin - 38 years and 5 days - is now the oldest Indian to take a 5-wicket haul in Tests

Previous record: Vinoo Mankad - 37 years and 307 days v Pakistan at Peshawar in 1955#INDvBAN

— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) September 22, 2024

In a remarkable all-round show, Ashwin also joined the elite company by scoring a century and picking up a five-wicket haul in the same Test for the fourth time. Only the legendary Ian Botham stands above him with five such achievements in the list.

This feat placed the Indian all-rounder alongside legends like Sir Garry Sobers, Jacques Kallis, and Shakib Al Hasan. Meanwhile, it was Ashwin’s seventh five-wicket haul in the fourth innings of a Test, equaling the records of late Australian spin wizard Shane Warne and Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan. He is only behind Rangana Herath's 12.

Ashwin scripts history in Chennai

Notably, Ashwin achieved the milestone of taking a five-wicket haul in the fourth innings of a Test match twice at Chennai, becoming the first player to achieve both a century and a five-wicket haul at the same venue, having done so previously against England in 2021.

Meanwhile, Ashwin was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution in India’s 280-run win over Bangladesh on Sunday at the Chepauk Stadium, as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in the ongoing Test series. The second and final Test will be played in Kanpur from September 27.

He smashed a record century in the first innings and then scalped six wickets in the second innings to help Team India restrict the Tigers to just 234 while chasing 515 runs and win the first Test in Chennai. Reflecting on his bowling approach as he went wicketless in the first innings, the seasoned off-spinner stressed the importance of controlling pace on the challenging surface.

Ashwin reveals how he bowled on the challenging Chennai pitch

Ashwin noted that he carefully adjusted his speed, identifying that slowing down too much would give the batters time to play off the back foot. Furthermore, the Chennai star emphasized how he thrived under pressure, enjoying the challenge it brings.

Ashwin said on JioCinema: “Pace was critical; I was earning my right to bowl slower; this is a surface where one that was reacting was when you go slower. But if you bowl a lot slower, there is time to play you off the back foot. I embrace pressure; I really enjoy being under pressure; I'm thinking like a bowler when I go in to bat. If there's a bowler who is at the backend of the spell, I let it go, but otherwise I play shots and transfer the pressure.”