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Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has entered the exclusive club of bowlers with 500 Test wickets, becoming only the second Indian and the ninth overall to achieve this monumental feat. The historic moment occurred during the ongoing third Test against England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
Starting the third Test with 499 wickets, Ashwin reached the magical 500 mark by dismissing Zak Crawley, who top-edged a sweep to short fine leg. This wicket marked the end of an 89-run opening partnership for England on the second day of the Test. Ashwin’s teammates congratulated him as he joined the elite group of Test bowlers.
Dinesh Karthik, the veteran India wicketkeeper-batter, acknowledged Ashwin’s journey, saying, “From Chennai to the cricketing cosmos, @ashwinravi99’s journey to 500 Test wickets is a saga of grit, guile, and unrivaled skill. A monumental achievement that cements his legacy in the annals of cricketing history. Bravo, Ashwin!”
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Ravichandran Ashwin now stands as the ninth bowler in Test cricket to cross the 500-wicket mark, following the legendary Anil Kumble from India, who achieved 619 wickets. The list includes Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (695), Stuart Broad (604), Glenn McGrath (563), Courtney Walsh (519), and Nathan Lyon (517).
In terms of speed to 500 wickets, Ashwin is the second quickest in Test history, accomplishing the milestone in 98 Test matches. The only bowler quicker than him is Muttiah Muralitharan, who achieved it in 87 Tests. Notably, each of the other seven bowlers took more than 100 Test matches to reach this remarkable milestone.
Having made his Test debut in November 2011 against the West Indies, Ashwin has played a pivotal role as India’s strike bowler, particularly on home soil, where he has claimed 347 of his 500 wickets.
Teammate Ravindra Jadeja playfully hinted at Ashwin’s ‘destiny’ to reach the milestone at Rajkot, his home ground. Jadeja expressed his happiness, stating, “I thought he would get it in the first test match, but it’s okay, it is destiny that he will get it here in my hometown.”
Ashwin’s impressive Test career includes 34 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket match hauls, showcasing his consistent excellence as a spinner. Among his 500 wickets, 277 were caught, 110 lbws, 100 bowled, and 13 stumped scalps, illustrating his diverse and impactful bowling prowess.
-IANS
