In 2023, Ravichandran Ashwin set new records left and right. During Wednesday's match against the West Indies in Dominica, the experienced Indian off-spinner once again achieved a remarkable feat by taking five wickets. He successfully dismissed both the opening batsmen, two players from the middle order, and even their No. 11, displaying an unmatched skill level, precision, and versatility.
This 5/60 performance stands out as one of his most satisfying five-wicket hauls. It comes shortly after he was overlooked for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia, despite being India's top-performing bowler throughout the WTC cycle.
This five-wicket haul adds to the already impressive list of records that Ashwin has shattered this year, and it's only July!
Let's take a closer look at these remarkable achievements:
#5 Fastest Indian to 450 Test wickets
Ashwin achieved a remarkable feat in the opening Test of this year's Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Nagpur by taking his 450th Test wicket. He bowled out Alex Carey to claim this milestone in his 89th Test match, making him the fastest Indian player to achieve this record.
Anil Kumble previously held the record, achieving 450 Test wickets in 93 matches around 18 years ago. However, Ashwin surpassed this achievement by reaching the milestone in a shorter span of time. It is worth noting that Sri Lanka's Muthiah Muralidaran holds the overall record for being the fastest bowler to reach 450 wickets, accomplishing this in just his 80th Test match, which occurred in 2003, 11 years after his Test debut.
#4 Most international wickets by Indians in wins
In the second innings of the Nagpur Test, Ashwin achieved a remarkable five-wicket haul, contributing to India's victory by an innings and 132 runs. His final wicket of the match was dismissing Carey (once again) lbw. This accomplishment increased his total wickets in international victories for India (across all formats) to 489, surpassing Kumble's previous record 486.
Another exceptional Indian spinner, Harbhajan Singh, accumulated 410 wickets in international victories. Ashwin currently holds 495 such wickets, positioning him at the eighth spot overall.
If India wins the first Test against West Indies, Ashwin will at least equal Waqar Younis' tally of 500 wickets in Test victories unless he secures an additional wicket in the second innings.
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#3 Most Test wickets by an Indian against a team
In the final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which ended in a boring draw, Ashwin took Todd Murphy's wicket in the first innings, bringing his total wickets against Australia in Tests to 112. This surpassed Kumble's record of 111 wickets against the same opponent, making Ashwin the leading wicket-taker against one opponent in India.
Following them in the rankings are Kapil Dev (99 wickets against Pakistan), BS Chandrasekhar (95 wickets against England), and Harbhajan Singh (95 wickets against Australia). In the same match, Ashwin took two more wickets, bringing his total against Australia to the seventh-highest overall. However, James Anderson recently surpassed him in the 2023 Ashes series.
Shane Warne holds the ultimate record with 195 wickets against England.
#2 Fastest Indian to 700 international wickets
On Wednesday, Ashwin achieved a remarkable feat by dismissing Alzarri Joseph in the 53rd over, bringing his total international wickets across all formats to 700. He joined the exclusive company of Kumble and Harbhajan as the third Indian player to reach this milestone, and remarkably, he accomplished it faster than both.
Ashwin reached this milestone in just 351 innings, surpassing Kumble's record of 381 innings and Harbhajan's 435 innings. Among all bowlers worldwide, Ashwin is the second-fastest to reach this milestone, surpassing Warne's 354 innings. He is now only second to Muralidaran, who achieved the feat in 308 innings. Ashwin's achievement is even more impressive as he is currently the fastest among all active cricketers.
#1 Ashwin has the most Test five-wicket hauls among current players
On Wednesday, the 36-year-old cricketer showcased an exceptional performance, taking five wickets in a single match. This achievement marked his 33rd five-wicket haul in international cricket, surpassing all other current players. Remarkably, he accomplished this feat in just his 93rd match.
Previously, England's James Anderson held the record with 32 five-wicket hauls, but it took him almost twice as many matches (181) to achieve it. Australia's Nathan Lyon is trailing behind with 25 five-wicket hauls from 122 matches. It's worth mentioning that Muralidaran and Warne stand at the top of this list, with 67 and 37 five-wicket hauls, respectively.
Conclusion -
In 2023, Ashwin's exceptional performance led to record-breaking milestones. Ashwin's remarkable success adds another chapter to his illustrious career and solidifies his position as one of the most accomplished cricketers in the game. Fast Live Line app and website are a fantastic resource for cricket enthusiasts seeking a live match app and comprehensive live line updates. Whether you're a passionate cricket fan or an avid follower of the sport, the Fast Live Line app and website are indispensable tools that keep you informed and engaged throughout the game.
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