India vs West Indies 2018: Ravichandran Ashwin Goes Past Harbhajan Singh In Elite List

India spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin, on Saturday, added yet another feather to his illustrious cap during the first Test against West Indies. The off-spinner surpassed compatriot Harbhajan Singh to become the bowler with the second most numbers of four-for in Tests.

Former India spinner Anil Kumble, who is also India’s highest wicket-taker in Tests, holds the record. Kumble picked up as many as 66 four-wicket hauls in a Test innings. On the other hand, Ashwin has achieved the feat on 42 occasions.

Ashwin was India’s stand-out bowler in the first innings, after picking up 4 for 27 which helped him go past Harbhajan. In the second innings, he took two more wickets as India thrashed the visitors.

On day three, Ashwin made light work of West Indies’ tail. He first removed Roston Chase who had scored a fighting fifty. The off-spinner then went on to take the wickets of Sherman Lewis and Shannon Gabriel to bundle out the visitors.

Ashwin also surpassed former South Africa bowler Allan Donald in the list of highest wicket-takers in Tests. He headed into the series opener with 327 wickets to his name. And the six-wicket haul in the match helped him go past Donald’s tally of 330 Test scalps.

Speaking at the end of the game, Ashwin expressed his delight over his performance after a tough outing in England and recovering from injury.

“I wanted to get my drift back, my rhythm back as it’s difficult to come back after an injury. I was a bit apprehensive yesterday, feeling a lot better today. I had a good stint at NCA and before that in England. I generally believe that in the second innings, the teams put up a better fight and there are a couple of partnerships here and there usually,” he said.

“There was one. This wicket was slightly better, it still is, hence I was surprised with the amount of attacking shots, the high risk shots that were played against the spinners. Maybe it was their strategy against the spinners but it clearly didn’t work this time,” he added.

Coming to the game, India thrashed West Indies by an innings and 272 runs to take an unassailable lead in the two-match series.

After being bowled out for 181 in the first innings in reply to India’s 649, West Indies could only manage 196 in the second.