Ravichandran Ashwin set to emulate Virat Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar in this elite Test record

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently engraved his name forever into the history books by entering the 500 Test wickets club, is on the verge of emulating another record. He is all set to become the latest Indian cricketer to have played 100 or more red-ball matches for the nation if he features in the 5th Test against England next month.

Ravichandran Ashwin has had a decent 5-match Test series so far and one that he will remember for a very long time. It was a topsy-turvy kind of series for him in which he made history but also had to leave the series due to a medical emergency. In the 4th Test match in Ranchi a couple of days ago, Ashwin played a major role in the 5-wicket win.

The 37-year-old after a quiet 1st innings in which he was able to collect only a wicket from the 22 overs Rohit Sharma asked him to bowl, Ashwin breathed fire in the 3rd innings. The veteran partnered with India’s only wrist spinner in the team Kuldeep Yadav to break the back of England’s batting and restricted the Bazballers from setting up an intimidating total.

Ashwin’s Ranchi masterclass

Ravichandran Ashwin who was given the nickname of “professor of off-spin” by none other than Graeme Swann himself, rattled England in the best way possible. After being handed the new ball by the skipper, Ashwin came out with a solid game plan of trying to skid the ball through in the middle and off-stump line with a good length.

The spin wizard who has worked tirelessly throughout his career to improve his craft, bagged back-to-back wickets of England’s top order. He first removed Ben Duckett then Ollie Pope and the only centurion from the 4th Test Joe Root, for 15, 0, and 11. He was supported by Kuldeep Yadav who earned 4 major breakthroughs of Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes, Tom Hartley, and Ollie Robinson.

Ravichandran Ashwin completed his 35th five-for by claiming wicket-keeper batsman Ben Foakes and James Anderson who will possibly complete 700 Test wickets in Dharamshala, for 17 and 0. Ashwin now stands at 507 Test wickets 17 so far from the Tests in Hyderabad, Vizag, Rajkot, and Ranchi.

He is also the joint 2nd highest wicket-taker in the 2024 Anthony De Mello trophy Test series and is tied with teammates Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja while Tom Hartley leads the chart with 20 wickets, conceding 600+ runs, which is the most by a bowler in the Top 5.

Ravichandran Ashwin to become 14th Indian to have 100 Test caps

If he is part of India’s playing XI for the 5th Test against England in Dharamshala, Ravichandran Ashwin will become the 14th Indian to earn 100 Test caps. He will be joining some legendary names in this list, which is spearheaded by Sachin Tendulkar who appeared in 200 Test matches.

Whereas the likes of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengasarkar, Sourav Ganguly, Virat Kohli, Ishant Sharma, Harbhajan Singh, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virender Sehwag, have played more than 100 red-ball matches.