Ravichandran Ashwin is now the 8th bowler in the list of all-time highest wicket-takers in Tests after his sensational spell on Day 3 of the Bengaluru Test. Team India registered another convincing series victory after their Lankan counterparts succumbed to Bumrah and Ashwin’s heroics with the pink ball. The 35-year-old off-spinner surpassed Proteas speedster Dale Steyn (439 scalps) in the elite club of highest wicket-takers in the longest format in the game. Dhananjaya De Silva edged a flighted delivery straight into the hands of Hanuma Vihari, thereby becoming Ashwin’s 440th Test victim.
In the previous Test in Mohali, Ashwin went past veteran all-rounder Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 dismissals. He is now India’s second most successful Test bowler in terms of breakthroughs. He is only behind the leg-spin wizard Anil Kumble who leads the chart with 619 wickets. While another genius of the art of spin, Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan( 800 wickets) is the numero uno in the list of highest wicket-takers in red-ball cricket.
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Ashwin races to 100 wickets in WTC, first ever to reach the landmark
Ashwin reached another milestone in the 2nd Test. He became the first bowler to pick up 100 scalps in the history of the ICC World Test Championship. The tournament which began in 2019 is currently in its 2nd edition. The modern-day spin king has so far featured in 21 Tests since the inception of WTC. Ashwin reached the 100 wicket mark at a spectacular average of 19.66 and a lethal strike rate of 47.11 with 4 fifers to his name. Behind him, stands Australian captain Pat Cummins with 93 wickets in 20 Tests.
” It is about being there in the moment, getting into the spell and getting into rhythm. I enjoyed the spell today. It is a combination of a lot of things and it is an internal battle to try and understand the rhythm and pace I want to bowl. I thought the Ahmedabad pitch was much quicker and had more bounce than this one,”
Ashwin stated at the post-match presentation.
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“he’s a legend of the game” Captain Rohit praises Ashwin
Ashwin finished with stellar figures of 4-55 in 19.3 overs. Overall, the seasoned campaigner picked up 6 wickets in the entire match. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hailed his frontline comrade with the ball as an “all-time great” of the game.
“He does something for the team whenever he’s given the ball, gives match-winning performance every time he’s given the ball, so I think he’s a legend of the game. Comes up with the goods every time the ball is handed to him.”
Rohit Sharma lauds Ashwin at the post-match presentation.
After a 2-0 clean sweep against Sri Lanka, Team India stands at number 4 with 77 points to their name in the ICC WTC points table. Australia currently sits at the top of the group stage standings.
