Ravichandran Ashwin breaks Kapil Dev's unique record after making Ben Stokes certified bunny

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin couldn’t have asked for more in his 100th Test appearance for India. 9 wickets, including a four-for in the 1st innings and five-for in the 3rd, and also an innings and 64-run win to cap off the series. It could not have been any better. Another record that he might be unaware of is that he became the Indian bowler to dismiss a particular batter the most times in Test cricket.

Before Ravichandran Ashwin topped that unique list, it was 1983-world cup-winning captain Kapil Dev who took the wicket of Pakistan’s Mudassar Nazar on 12 occasions. But on day 3 of the 5th Test, Ashwin rose on top by claiming England captain Ben Stokes for a record 13th time in Test cricket.

How did Ravichandran Ashwin’s 100th Test match pan out?

His 100th Test began after Rahul Dravid presented him with the cap inside of a glass case in front of his 2 little daughters and his wife Prithi Ashwin. Later that day, after letting Kuldeep Yadav have his moment with a five-for, it was Ravichandran Ashwin who completed England’s route with 4 wickets of Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood and James Anderson.

He had an unlucky day out with the bat as he got out for a duck but he wouldn’t mind that because a 5-wicket haul was on the cards. Earlier today after James Anderson and Shoaib Bashir quickly removed the remaining Indian tail for 477, Ashwin got into the act very quickly.

He was handed the new ball by stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah and it was a matter of time until Ashwin’s magic worked. The Tamil Nadu-born took the first three wickets of Ben Duckett (2), Zak Crawley (0), and Ollie Pope (19) before Kuldeep removed Jonny Bairstow.

Ravichandran Ashwin completed his five-for through the wickets of Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes – for the second time in the Test match.

With the wicket of Stokes, Ashwin has got him out 13 times now more than any other Indian bowler has ever managed to get someone out.

Indian Bowlers to Dismiss a batter most times in Test

13 – Ravi Ashwin v Ben Stokes (ENG)*
12 – Kapil Dev v Mudassar Nazar (PAK)
11 – Ishant Sharma v Alastair Cook (ENG)
11 – Ravi Ashwin v David Warner (AUS)
11 – Kapil Dev v Graham Gooch (ENG)

Record galore Ravi Ashwin

With his five-for on his 100th appearance, Ravi Ashwin has entered a number of records. He not only becomes the 4th bowler to scalp 5 wickets on the landmark appearance but also the first bowler ever to take five-fors in both debut and 100th match.

Up next, Ashwin has overtaken Anil Kumble in terms of most 5-wicket hauls in Test cricket and he will need one more to go joint second-highest with Shane Warne. Ravichandran Ashwin now has equal amounts of Test wickets against England and Australia – 114.

It was normal for him to feel like as if he was on top of the world and that’s what he described after the win. “Feeling very happy. I can’t really put a wrap around how I feel right now. Lots of well wishes before the 10oth Test. Throughout the series I have gone to different actions, speeds and releases. India is a different, each ground has a challenge,” Ashwin said via Jio Cinema.