Ravichandran Ashwin has etched his name in the annals of cricket history by becoming the second Indian bowler to take 500 wickets in Test matches. This milestone was reached during the second day of the third Test between India and England in Rajkot, marking a significant achievement in Ashwin’s already storied career.
Ashwin’s Historic Achievement
The off-spinner achieved this landmark by dismissing England’s opener Zak Crawley in the 14th over, not only reaching the 500-wicket milestone but also breaking an ominous opening stand. Ashwin’s feat places him in an exclusive club, becoming just the ninth bowler worldwide to achieve this remarkable milestone. Among Indian bowlers, only the legendary Anil Kumble has more Test scalps, with a total of 619 wickets.
Completing 500 wickets in his 98th Test match, Ashwin has shown exceptional skill and consistency throughout his career. Remarkably, he is also the second-fastest bowler to reach this milestone, with only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan achieving it in fewer matches (87).
India’s Most Successful Test Bowlers
A look at India’s most successful bowlers in Test cricket underscores the significant contributions of these players to the team’s success over the years:
Rank | Bowler | Wickets | Innings |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Anil Kumble | 619 | 236 |
2 | R. Ashwin | 500 | 184 |
3 | Kapil Dev | 434 | 227 |
4 | Harbhajan Singh | 417 | 190 |
5 | Zaheer Khan | 311 | 165 |
6 | Ishant Sharma | 311 | 188 |
Fastest to 500 Test Wickets
Ashwin’s journey to 500 wickets also ranks impressively among the fastest bowlers to achieve this milestone in the number of Test matches played:
Rank | Bowler | Tests |
---|---|---|
1 | Muttiah Muralitharan | 87 |
2 | R. Ashwin | 98 |
3 | Anil Kumble | 105 |
4 | Shane Warne | 108 |
5 | Glenn McGrath | 110 |
6 | Nathan Lyon | 123 |
7 | Courtney Walsh | 129 |
8 | James Anderson | 129 |
9 | Stuart Broad | 140 |