Ravichandran Ashwin thanks Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane for assisting him in completing 500 Test wickets

Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says that he is forever grateful and thankful to his national teammates Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane. Ashwin said this in the context of those 3 cricketers helping him reach the landmark 500 Test wickets for India which he completed during the 3rd Test against England at Rajkot.

Ravichandran Ashwin while speaking in a recent interview had claimed that if he was to thank anybody beyond his family then it would be Kohli, Pujara, and Rahane. He stated that in Kohli at short mid-wicket, Pujara at leg slip, and Rahane at slip would be the positions Ashwin would forever ask them to be in.

“I had Kohli at short midwicket, Pujara at leg slip, Rahane at slip forever. If I have to Thank someone beyond my family, it’s those Three,” Ashwin told Cricket Monthly. 

Ravichandran Ashwin grabs 4 wickets in 100th Test outing

Meanwhile, in his 100th Test outing for the Indian national team, Ravichandran Ashwin scalped 4 wickets on the first morning at Dharamshala. Ashwin was initially kept quiet by the English batters who were constantly getting scrutinized by the line length and turn of India’s only wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.

The Chinaman registered his much-awaited first 5-wicket haul of the series, something he was very close to achieving in the 4th Test. Kuldeep had mainly supported Ravi Ashwin in the 4th Test as the latter registered his 35th 5-wicket haul while the former returned with figures of 4/22.

And after Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bat first, it was Kuldeep who made it possible for the Indians to bowl the visitors out for just 218 runs. The ball was moving swiftly and we also saw some uneven bounce in the track at HPCA stadium.

Soon after seeing Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowl long spells but returning with nothing, Rohit Sharma turned to his spin bowling options. He handed the ball to Kuldeep and Ashwin from the two ends and the rewards quickly started to reap.

Kuldeep registered the first 4 wickets of Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Zak Crawley, and Jonny Bairstow before Ravindra Jadeja led to the departure of Joe Root. Kuldeep completed his five-for by claiming Ben Stokes and then it was Ravichandran Ashwin who swooped up the remaining wickets of Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, and James Anderson.

With those 4 wickets, Ashwin also toppled Hartley in the list of leading wicket-takers in the Anthony De Mello trophy 2024 series.

Ashwin hands debut Test cap to Devdutt Padikkal

Before the ceremonious event of Ravichandran Ashwin receiving his 100th Test cap from Rahul Dravid, the off-spinner handed the debut cap to Devdutt Padikkal. Ashwin also delivered a motivating speech for the Karnataka batter who comes in as Rajat Patidar’s replacement.

“Dev, remember one thing, Karnataka has produced a lot of wonderful international cricketers, the man who is standing right opposite to you but mind you that’s not your burden to carry. Today is your day, Guard it, Cherish it and express yourself,” Ashwin said while giving debut cap to Padikkal.