Ravichandran Ashwin on the cusp of breaking Anil Kumble's record to become the most successful Test bowler in India
Published - 14 Feb 2024, 02:30 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:26 AM
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Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is on the verge of creating yet another record during the upcoming third Test against England. Ravichandran Ashwin is expected to become India‘s leading wicket-taker in Tests on home soil, surpassing the legendary Anil Kumble.
Team India will compete against England in the third Test of the five-match series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (SCA) Stadium in Rajkot, starting on Thursday, February 15th. The ongoing red-ball series is tied at 1-1, with each team securing victory in one match.
Ravichandran Ashwin Needs Five Wicket To Break Anil Kumble’s Record
Ravichandran Ashwin is on the brink of overtaking Anil Kumble as India’s top Test wicket-taker at home. The 37-year-old bowler needs just five more wickets to achieve this significant milestone, solidifying his legacy as one of India’s premier bowlers in Test cricket.
Kumble holds the record with 350 wickets in 63 Tests, including 25 five-wicket hauls and seven 10-wicket hauls. Ashwin has secured 346 wickets in 57 matches, with 26 five-wicket hauls and six 10-wicket hauls. Harbhajan Singh ranks third on the list with 265 wickets.
Former Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan stands as the most successful bowler at home, having claimed 493 wickets in 73 matches. His remarkable record includes 45 five-wicket hauls and 15 10-wicket hauls, showcasing his dominance in Sri Lankan cricket.
Most Wickets By Indian Bowler In Home Tests
Anil Kumble – 350 wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin – 346 wickets
Harbhajan Singh – 265 wickets
Kapil Dev – 219 wickets
Ravindra Jadeja – 199 wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin on the Brink of 500 Test Cricket Wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin is on the brink of reaching a significant milestone in Test cricket, needing just one more wicket to achieve 500 wickets. Ashwin will become the ninth bowler worldwide and the second Indian to join this elite list in the longer format of the game.
The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer bagged 499 wickets in 97 Tests at an impressive average of 23.92. Throughout his career, he has secured 34 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls. The veteran off-spinner made his debut against the West Indies in November 2011.
Ashwin secured three wickets in each innings during the opening Test in Hyderabad. The spinner went wicketless in the first innings of the second match in Visakhapatnam. However, Ashwin made a significant comeback in the second innings, claiming three crucial wickets.
Ashwin has taken nine wickets in the ongoing series against England at an average of 36.33. Overall, he has bagged 97 wickets in 21 Tests, including six five-wicket hauls. He needs just three more wickets to become the first Indian to reach 100 Test wickets against England.
In the first two Tests, Indian spinners struggled to make an impact with the ball, with only Jasprit Bumrah standing out in the bowling attack. In contrast, England’s inexperienced spinners outperformed their Indian counterparts, with 33 wickets compared to India’s 23.
India’s squad for the 3rd Test: Rohit Sharma (c), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Rajat Patidar, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (wk), KS Bharat (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Akash Deep, Devdutt Padikkal.
