Ravichandran Ashwin Can Break Anil Kumble's Record Of 619 Test Wickets - Parthiv Patel

Former Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel said Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has the potential to break Anil Kumble’s record in Test cricket. On Sunday, India defeated Sri Lanka in the first Test by an innings and 222 runs at the Punjab Cricket Association in Mohali.

Ashwin scalped a total of six wickets in the first Test as he went on to become the second-most Test wicket-taker of India after going past former Indian skipper Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 Test wickets.

Ashwin dismissed Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Thirimanne and all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva in the first innings and got four wickets more in the second as India enforced the visitors to follow on. Ashwin claimed the wicket of Charith Asalanka as his 435th Test scalp to leapfrog Kapil Dev’s record.

Ravichandran Ashwin can get close or even break Anil Kumble’s record: Parthiv Patel

The Indian off-spinner is now only behind Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 Test wickets in the leading wicket-takers list for Indian bowlers in the longest format. Parthiv, who has played alongside Ashwin in the Indian team and Chennai Super Kings in IPL, believes if the Tamil Nadu player performs consistently for at least four more years then he can break Kumble’s record.

“In 2008 when we both were a part of CSK, Ashwin was always curious to learn new things. He also used to spend time with Muralitharan during that phase. Credit to Ashwin… 436 wickets is a huge milestone.

“If he continues to play for another three-four years, he can get close or even break Kumble’s record,” Parthiv told Cricbuzz.

“Ashwin reads the wicket well and varies his length and speed according to that. He also consults the wicketkeeper for the length and speed he needs to dismiss the batter.

“These things matter when you bowl overseas. You don’t get much spin and you have to set up the batter in a different way. You’ve to deceive him in the air and tweak your angles as well.

“We have seen Ashwin dismissing Smith bowling round the wicket. He’s a student of the game with the ability to adjust his bowling according to the surface,” Parthiv added.

Ravichandran Ashwin has a deep understanding of the game: Parthiv Patel

During the New Zealand Test series last year in the November-December period, Aswin went past Harbhajan Singh’s tally of 417 Test wickets. Parthiv said that Ashwin’s hard work has ranked him among the legends of Indian cricket.

“Ashwin joined the elite list that has names like Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev and Harbhajan Singh. These are legends of Indian cricket and a lot of people got inspired after watching them play. We talk about batters like Tendulkar and Gavaskar but many people copied the action of Kapil, Harbhajan and Kumble,” he said.

“Many took up the sport because of them. Ashwin joining them is a testimony to his hard work. It took him 11 years to reach the milestone. It takes time and you got to work hard for that time. We have seen Ashwin try different things as well. He has a deep understanding of the game and he takes his time to study it,” he added. 

Ashwin has picked 306 of his 436 Test wickets on Indian soil and holds the record of being the fastest bowler to pick 300 Test wickets in 54 matches.

Also Read: Hope Ravichandran Ashwin Breaks Anil Kumble’s Record Of 619 Test Wickets- Nikhil Chopra