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 played in his 100th Test match. He became 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. However amidst this magnum achievement, and one more to his feather where Ravichandran Ashwin is set to play his 100th test at picturesque Dharamshala , the veteran off spinner has made a peace with a fact that he is not the preferred spinner for overseas conditions over Ravindra Jadeja.
Rohit Sharma said ‘don’t get excited and go off in the first’….- Ravichandran Ashwin recalls how Rohit Sharma made his 100th Test match memorable
Ravichandran Ashwin played in his 100th Test match at Dharamshala. He became only the 14th cricketer, among 313 Indian Test players ever, to play in 100 Tests for India. He achieved the milestone in the recently concluded 5 match series versus England. The veteran spinner recently spoke about how Skipper Rohit Sharma and other team members gave him the guard of honor at the start of the match. Sharing details of his conversation with Rohit Sharma before the iconic moment , Ashwin said in his latest Youtube video :
“Rohit’s guard of honor. He came to me and said, ‘Don’t get excited and go off in the first. We have planned something for you.’. Then he told me to take a walk around the dressing room and come, like surprising a small child. They had arranged a guard of honor, and I walked through that. It was a very interesting moment. All the boys standing there recognized and valued the moment,”
Ravichandran Ashwin admitted to be overwhelmed by the immense love he received from his teammates and fans in his 100th Test. Speaking about his feelings during the match, he said :
“I had requested a little backing up if I had a shortfall in terms of emotional balance or game intensity. But the affection and love like this, I’m not able to put into words. Starting 2-3 days before the match itself, whatever happened on the morning of match day, everything was overwhelming. I wasn’t able to gauge my mental space. Even though I didn’t have much emotional attachment to the 100th Test concept,”
Ravichandran Ashwin shone with the ball in his landmark Test, picking up nine wickets, including a stunning five-wicket haul in the second innings. India won the match by an innings and 64 runs, completing a 4-1 series victory over England. Ravichandran Ashwin was the leading wicket taker in the Test series between India and England finishing with 26 scalps in 10 innings.