IND vs SL: Ravichandran Ashwin Overtakes Dale Steyn To Become 8th Highest Wicket Taker In Tests

Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin became the eighth-highest wicket-taker in Test history when he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva during Day 3 of the day-night pink-ball Test in Bengaluru.

Ashwin had de Silva caught at forward short leg to go past former South African pacer, Dale Steyn, who had 439 wickets to his name. Ashwin started out the match on 436 wickets, needing just four more to go past Steyn’s tally.

He managed to achieve it and is now sitting in eighth place on the highest wicket-takers list. Ashwin’s 440th wicket also came in his 86th innings, seven less than what Steyn needed during his playing career.

Among Indians, Ashwin is the second-most successful bowler in Tests, with only Anil Kumble ahead of him. Former spin legends, Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne lead the wickets tally with 800 and 708 wickets to their name.

Notably, Ashwin’s record of 30 five-wicket hauls is the seventh-best among bowlers. Muralitharan leads the charts for that as well with 67 5-for’s to his name. The next best is Warne, who has taken 37 five-wicket hauls.

In the previous Test against Sri Lanka, Ashwin had moved past former Indian all-rounder, Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 wickets. He also received a hand-written note from the legend, congratulating him for achieving the feat.

At the age of 35, Ashwin may not have a lot of playing years left in his career but he can enter the elite list of bowlers who have taken 500 wickets in Test matches.

Top-8 wicket-takers in Test history:

Muttiah Muralitharan – 133 matches, 800 wickets
Shane Warne – 145 matches, 708 wickets
James Anderson – 169 matches, 640 wickets
Anil Kumble – 132 matches, 619 wickets
Glenn McGrath – 124 matches, 563 wickets
Stuart Broad – 152 matches, 537 wickets
Courtney Walsh – 132 matches, 519 wickets
Ravichandran Ashwin – 86 matches, 440 wickets

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