IND vs SL: Ravichandran Ashwin Overtakes Richard Hadlee To Become 11th Highest Wicket-Taker In Tests

Indian premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has surpassed New Zealand bowling legend, Richard Hadlee, to become the 11th highest wicket-taker in the history of Test cricket.

Ashwin achieved the feat when he dismissed Sri Lankan batter, Dhananjaya de Silva, on Day 2 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. With de Silva’s wicket, Ashwin moved to 432 wickets, one more than Hadlee’s tally of 431 wickets in 86 matches.

Ashwin has played 85 Tests so far, averaging 24.31 with a strike rate of 52.6. His best figures came against New Zealand when he took 7/59. Along with his wickets tally, Ashwin has also contributed immensely with the bat in hand.

He has scored 2844 runs at an average of 26.83, including five centuries and twelve fifties. Ashwin is just two wickets away from equaling Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 wickets, and he has plenty of time to do so in the ongoing Test series.

Notably, by the end of the series, Ashwin has the chance to become the eighth highest wicket-taker in Tests. Dale Steyn currently is in eighth place with 439 wickets in 93 matches.

India in pole position at the end of play on Day 2

Ravindra Jadeja‘s batting masterclass combined with Ashwin’s brisk fifty has ensured that India finishes Day 2 on top. They declared their first innings after racking up 574 on the board, Jadeja top-scoring with 175*.

In response, Sri Lanka has already lost four wickets with 108 on the scorecard, still trailing India by 466 runs with three days of play left. Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka were at the crease fighting for survival.

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