India’s spin bowling lynchpin Ravichandran Ashwin is at a stage of his career where he is creating a record in every Test match he is playing. Earlier this month, Ravichandran Ashwin captured his 500th wicket in the third Test match of the India-England series becoming the second Indian bowler after legendary Anil Kumble and just the ninth bowler to achieve the feat.
In the first week of March 2024, Ravichandran Ashwin will be playing in his 100th Test match. He will be only the 14th cricketer, among 313 Indian Test players ever, to play in 100 Tests for India.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s journey to 500 and more
Ravichandran Ashwin who started his first class and school age cricket as an opening batter for his home team Tamil Nadu, is no geek with the bat having an average of 23.69 in tests with a strike rate of 51.48 inclusive of 5 test centuries out of which one came in the last series versus the Englishmen at home in Chennai where he and the other century man Rohit Sharma on a sluggish Chennai wicket helped India won a match.
With the ball on Indian pitches versus any opposition over a decade now Ashwin has been a threat since his test debut in 2011 having taken over the mantle of Indian spin legacy from the likes of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh successfully. His bowling figures at home stands an impressive at 337 wickets from 55 matches only with a best of 7 for 59 inclusive of 26 five wickets haul and 6 ten wickets hauls in both innings of a test match.
Ashwin has an impeccable record versus the Englishmen at home and away and in this series requires just eight more wickets to become India’s leading wicket taker versus England in tests. In this series where records would galore for Ravichandran Ashwin, he could be the only second bowler to complete 100 wickets in India -England tests after James Anderson(139 wickets).
Also Ashwin requires only 13 wickets to complete 350 test wickets at home. In the process Ashwin can also become second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble (895) to deliver 600 maiden overs in Tests in India . With so many records in sight it is evident that Ravichandran Ashwin was supposed to be an be an impending threat on the English batters. Ashwin boasts a stellar record at home with 346 wickets in 57 Tests at a sensational average of 21.27, including 26 five-wicket hauls.
India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday became only the second Indian and ninth overall to take 500 wickets in Test cricket. Ashwin accomplished the landmark during the third Test against England in Rajkot, making him only the second Indian after the legendary Anil Kumble to take 500 Test wickets.
Ashwin needed one wicket to reach 500 wickets before the start of the third Test and the off-spinner completed the milestone in England’s first innings when he dismissed Zak Crawley for 15. Zak Crawley fell to a top edge while attempting a sweep from outside leg. Ashwin’s teammates gathered around him to offer their congratulations, marking him as only the second Indian to reach this illustrious milestone. It’s undoubtedly a moment for celebration, but there’s also the recognition that there’s still work to be done in the larger context of the game.
Ashwin also became only the second bowler after Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan to take 500 wickets in less than 100 Tests. Ashwin, who has been the fastest Indian to reach 50, 100, 150, 200, 350, 400 and 450 Test wickets, is also the fastest in the world to reach 250 and 300 Test wickets.
Ashwin’s journey to 500 Test wickets has been marked by a series of record-breaking achievements as the off-spinner set a world record by reaching 250 wickets in just 45 matches and continued his impressive form to reach 300 wickets in 54 matches. Ashwin’s relentless pursuit of excellence saw him reach 350 wickets in 66 Tests, and he secured his 400th wicket in his 77th Test match. By the time he played his 89th Test, he had already amassed 450 wickets.
This excellent journey from the Indian spin maestro of the modern generation garnered praises all the world for the massive achievement. This lanky man from Tamil Nadu playing his 100th test match at Dharamshala has received special praise from Former Indian wicket keeper now commentator Dinesh Kartik.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling and his mastery over his skill is a lot like Christopher Nolan’s movies- Dinesh Karthik
Former Indian wicket keeper now commentator Dinesh Kartik believes that team India’s veteran off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s bowling is comparable to Christopher Nolan’s movies because of its complex nature. Karthik mentioned how Ashwin has used physics to improve things like his delivery stride and hip movement. Sharing this on the seasoned campaigner’s thought process Karthik told Cricbuzz :
“Ashwin’s bowling and his mastery over his skill is a lot like Christopher Nolan’s movies. Sometimes you’ve to watch it again, maybe twice or thrice to understand what the movie is all about. What he’s trying to achieve, I’ve seen an article where he speaks about parabola, where he speaks about the different angles he uses, not just the usual angles, but we’re talking about delivery stride, arm power loading, how the hip can move faster, and various things like these.”
The test at Dharamshala is Ravichandran Ashwin’s 100th test and Dinesh Kartik expressed his excitement as the crafty spinner became the first from Tamil Nadu to achieve this milestone . The cricketer commentator added.
“I’m very happy for him. I’ve always had a special corner for him because he’s from the state that I played in, and we’ve been playing this sport for about 92 years now, and Tamil Nadu is yet to produce a 100-Test match player. I’m very, very happy and proud to say that Ashwin is the first player from Tamil Nadu to do that. The next best from Tamil Nadu is Murali Vijay at 62, and there’s a big gaping hole after Ashwin in terms of who can reach the 100-Test match mark.”
Playing his 100th test, Ravichandran Ashwin bagged 4 wickets second to Kuldeep Yadav’s magical fifer to keep England to 218 all out.
All will come to know about Ravichandran Ashwin’s greatness post his retirement exclaims Dinesh Kartik
Dinesh Kartik also suggested that Ravichandran Ashwin hasn’t got the credit he deserves for his contributions to the Indian team . He suggested that the fans will understand the 37 year old’s contribution to cricket post his retirement .
He also added that how Ashwin’s naysayers often bring up his overseas record to criticize him. Kartik , however, noted that how the bowler is second to none when performing in Indian conditions. Kartik added:
“Sometimes, we don’t realize greatness and how good people are when they’re around and they’re playing. We’ll all realize how good Ravichandran Ashwin has been the moment he retires. We speak about, ‘Oh, he’s not done well abroad, oh, he’s not done well here.’, but the fact that in India, the way he’s mastered his art, (is terrific),”
Ravichandran Ashwin has picked up 511 test wickets from 188 innings in his test career and in addition to it has scored whopping 3309 runs at an average of 26.47 with 5 centuries making him an handy all rounder for India in red ball cricket.