Ravichandran Ashwin leaves Nathan Lyon behind, becomes 7th leading wicket-taker in Test history

India National Cricket Team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has achieved a new high in Test cricket. The veteran player has surpassed Australia National Cricket Team spinner Nathan Lyon to become the 7th leading wicket-taker in the history of the longest format of the game.

Ravichandran Ashwin achieved the feat in the ongoing second Test against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. The penultimate game of the three-match series between the teams is taking place at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

Ravichandran Ashwin took the first three wickets of the New Zealand

Ashwin, who looked off colors in the last Test, has made sure that he makes a strong statement in the ongoing game. In a situation where nothing has been going in India's favor, the off-spinner has been the shining light for his team in Pune.

Ashwin has taken the first three wickets of the New Zealand National Cricket Team in the ongoing game. The off-spinner has been posting a great threat to the opposition and has been making sure that he keeps things tight as well with the ball, not letting the opposition score runs freely.

Ravichandran Ashwin drew the first blood for his team when he removed New Zealand National Cricket Team skipper Tom Latham. He sent the left-hander packing in his first over as he trapped him in lbw before getting rid of Will Young (18) on the last ball of the 24th over.

Ashwin didn't stop there as he then went on to remove well-set Devon Conway for 76 runs. The off-spinner now has 531 wickets to his name from 104 matches, going last Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon's tally of 530 wickets in the longest format of the game.

Ravichandran Ashwin is now the 7th leading wicket-taker in Test cricket

Ashwin is now the 7th leading wicket-taker in Test cricket. Sri Lanka legend Muttiah Muralitharan is at the top of the list with 800 wickets to his name. He is followed by Australia’s Shane Warne (708), England’s James Anderson (704), India’s Anil Kumble (619), England’s Stuart Broad (604) and Australia’s Glenn McGrath (563).

Most wickets in Tests

• Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) – 800

• Shane Warne (Australia) – 708

• James Anderson (England) – 704

• Anil Kumble (India) – 619

• Stuart Broad (England) – 604

• Glenn McGrath (Australia) – 563

• Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 531*

• Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 530

Ravichandran Ashwin becomes the leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship

Ashwin also went past Nathan Lyon in terms of leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship. The Australia spinner has taken 187 wickets in 43 WTC matches, whereas the Indian off-spinner has 189 wickets to his name in 39 matches played so far.

Most wickets in the World Test Championship

• Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 189*

• Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 187

• Pat Cummins (Australia) – 175

• Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 147

• Stuart Broad (England) – 134

Ashwin is also on the verge of breaking the massive record of Shane Warne in Test cricket. If he manages to take two more wickets in he will go past the Australia legend's tally of 37 five-wicket hauls in the longest format of the game.