By Ravichandran Ashwin became the ninth cricketer and second Indian to achieve the milestone of 500 Test wickets, reaching this landmark in his 98th Test match. The 37-year-old offspinner achieved this feat on the second day of the Test match in Rajkot, dismissing England’s Zak Crawley in the final session.
Ashwin’s 500th wicket was crucial for India, as England’s openers had put up a strong 89-run partnership in just 13 overs in response to India’s first-innings score of 445. Ashwin broke this partnership by dismissing Crawley, who top-edged a sweep to Rajat Patidar at short fine leg.
Since his debut for India in November 2011, Ashwin has played a key role in India’s dominant performances at home over the last decade. He has taken 34 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls in a match. Among Indian bowlers, only Anil Kumble, with 619 wickets, has more Test wickets than Ashwin. Ashwin is also the third offspinner, alongside Muthiah Muralidaran and Nathan Lyon, to reach the 500-wicket mark in Test cricket.
