Indian team’s most successful and fierce off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin broke record of former bowler Harbhajan Singh on Monday and became the third highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, reaching the mark in his 80th match.
The 1st position has been secured since years by the legendary Anil Kumble with 619 wickets and is followed by India’s first World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev, who has a total of 434 wickets under his name. The Chennai player drew level with Harbhajan (417 in 103 games), who remains one of India’s finest spinners, when he took the wicket of New Zealand opener Will Young towards the end of the fourth day in the opening Test.
Ashwin then took the wicket of Tom Latham to get his 418th Test wicket. In New Zealand’s first innings, he had registered figures of 3/82 in 42.3 overs. Harbhajan ‘The turbonator’ singh congratulated the new record holder by saying, “I would like to congratulate Ashwin on his milestone. Well done and hope he wins many more matches for India. I never believed in comparisons. We played our best cricket at different times, against different opposition. I had done my best for the country back then and ditto for Ashwin, he did his best now.”
Among active Test cricketers, Ashwin is the third highest wicket taker after English pacers Stuart Broad (524) and James Anderson (632). Ashwin made his Test debut in November 2011 against the West Indies in Delhi. His wickets have come at a strike rate of 52.4 and average of 24.56. Apart from his exploits with the ball, Ashwin is also known for his capability with the bat, scoring 2685 runs at an average of 27.68 with five centuries to his name.
The player from Chennai is also known for his amazing 150 wickets in 111 ODIs and is the third highest wicket taker for India in T20Is with 61 wickets from 51 matches.
