Ravichandran Ashwin took his 435th Test wicket on Sunday to become the second highest wicket-taker in the longest format for India. He passed Kapil Dev, who has 434 wickets to his credit and is now only behind Anil Kumble (619).
R Ashwin is now India’s second-best wicket-taker in Test cricket (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ashwin passed Kapil Dev to become the second highest Indian wicket-taker in Tests
- Ashwin is the fourth Indian bowler to win more than 400 Test wickets
- He is the third highest wicket-taker among active Test cricketers
Ravichandran Ashwin passed Kapil Dev on Sunday to become India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format on Day 3 of the series-opening friendly against Sri Lanka in Mohali. It brought Ashwin’s career tally to 435 wickets while Kapil has 434 wickets to his name in the longest format of the game.
Ashwin leveled with Kapil and took the wicket from Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka in the first over after tea on day three. He then sacked Charith Asalanka to take his 435th Test wicket. The 35-year-old had previously recorded figures of 2/49 in the 20 overs he threw in Sri Lanka’s first innings.
India vs Sri Lanka, 1st day of testing 3 live updates
Ashwin is the fourth Indian bowler to win more than 400 wickets in Test cricket. He also became the ninth-highest Test wicket taker of all time after overtaking New Zealand’s Richard Hadlee (431) and Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath (432) in the ongoing Test against Sri Lanka at Mohali. Among active Test cricketers, Ashwin is the third-highest wicket-taker after English fast-bowling duo Stuart Broad (537) and James Anderson (640).
MOST TEST WICKETS (ALL TIMES)
- Muttiah Muralitharan – 800 in 133 tests
- Shane Warne – 708 in 145 Tests
- James Anderson – 640 in 169 tests
- Anil Kumble – 619 in 132 Tests
- Glenn McGrath – 563 in 124 tests
- Stuart Broad – 537 in 152 tests
- Courtney Walsh – 519 in 132 tests
- Dale Steyn – 439 in 93 Tests
- R. Ashwin – 435 in 85 tests*
Ashwin, who made his Test debut against the West Indies in Delhi in November 2011, has taken 435 wickets in 85 Tests with a batting average of 52.6 and a 24.33 average. Aside from his prowess with the ball, Ashwin is also known for his prowess with the racquet, hitting 2,905 runs at a 27.15 average with five centuries to his name.
Aahwin hit a fifty in the first innings of the running Test as India announced a mammoth first-innings total of 574/8. Ashwin conceded 2 wickets in the first innings as he put on another all-around show for India in white.
Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja continued to shine against Sri Lanka, conceding five wickets as the visitors ejected for 174 on day three of the first Test before India forced the connection. Jadeja recorded 5/41 to not go in India’s innings of 574/8 with his impressive 175, which was declared when the visitors conceded a 400-run lead in the first innings. Sri Lanka was 10-1 in their second innings, with Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka in the middle, still more than 380 runs behind India.
