R Ashwin Becomes Second Indian to claim 500 Test Wickets

Star Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin etched his name in cricketing folklore by becoming only the ninth bowler overall and second from India after legendary Anil Kumble to reach the special milestone of 500 Test wickets.

The Feat

Ashwin accomplished the feat on Day 2 of the ongoing India-England Test in Rajkot when he dismissed English opener Zak Crawley to register his 500th wicket. It also made him the fastest Indian bowler to the mark in just 95 Tests.

Place Among Elite Company

In breaching the 500 wickets club, Ashwin joins all-time highest wicket-takers Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne and Anil Kumble while also going past fast bowlers James Anderson, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh and Stuart Broad.

Home Dominance

Of Ashwin’s 500 scalps, a staggering 347 wickets have come in India, highlighting his bowling mastery on spinning subcontinental tracks with flight, drift and sharp turn leaving opponents clueless.

The Journey

Since his debut in 2011, the wily Ashwin has been India’s leading match-winner across all conditions. Ashwin credited his early years in the IPL with Chennai Super Kings, where he became known for his ability to bowl in the powerplay, for bringing him into the limelight.
Be it spin friendly dustbowls at home or SENA country venues (South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia) nations, his clever variations have consistently delivered results. Ashwin also surpassed BS Chandrasekhar to become India’s leading wicket-taker against England in Test cricket. Overall, he has picked up 34 five-wicket hauls and eight match hauls of ten or more. He is also only the third off-spinner to the mark, alongside Muralidaran and Nathan Lyon.

Who tops the chart

With 800 wickets in 133 games, Sri Lanka’s Muthiah Muralitharan is the all-time highest wicket-taker in Tests. He also tops the charts with 1347 international wickets, including 534 ODI wickets. Muralitharan is one of two bowlers with over 1000 international wickets, the another being Australia’s Shane Warne with 1001 scalps.