In a stunning display of skill and dominance, Ravichandran Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler, showcased his brilliance once again during the recent match against West Indies at Windsor Park, Dominica. His remarkable performance led India to dismiss the opposition for a mere 150 runs in the first innings. Ashwin’s achievements in this match were extraordinary, as he shattered multiple records and reached new milestones, solidifying his status as one of the greatest spinners in the game.
Ashwin began his exceptional spell by claiming the wicket of Tagenarine Chanderpaul, son of the legendary Windies cricketer Shivnarine Chanderpaul. This achievement made him the first Indian bowler to account for both father-son scalps in Test matches. Shortly after, he dismissed Windies captain Kraigg Brathwaite, leaving the opposition struggling at 68/4 during the first session of the opening day.
With his exceptional bowling skills, Ashwin surpassed the legendary Anil Kumble’s record of the most bowled dismissals by an Indian bowler in Test cricket. Kumble’s record of 94 bowled dismissals was broken as Ashwin achieved 95 such dismissals in his career. This remarkable accomplishment is a testament to Ashwin’s ability to deceive and outwit batters with his variations and spin.
Ravichandran Ashwin now finds himself in an elite list of bowlers who have claimed five-wicket hauls in India vs. West Indies Tests. With five such hauls, he shares the position with former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh. Ashwin and Harbhajan trail the legendary West Indian pacer Malcolm Marshall, who leads the list with six five-wicket hauls. This was Ashwin’s third five-wicket haul on Caribbean soil, demonstrating his mastery even on foreign pitches.
The grandest milestone reached by Ashwin in this match was his attainment of 700 international wickets. His dismissal of Alzarri Joseph marked a momentous occasion, as he became only the third Indian bowler to reach this feat. With a current tally of 702 international wickets, Ashwin stands behind Harbhajan Singh (711) and Anil Kumble (956) among Indian bowlers. Given his exceptional form, it won’t be long before he overtakes Harbhajan and aims for greater heights in the record books.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s exceptional performance also saw him claim his 33rd five-wicket haul in Test cricket, surpassing England’s James Anderson. With this achievement, Ashwin now holds the sixth position on the all-time list of most five-wicket hauls in Tests. Additionally, among currently active cricketers, Ashwin boasts the highest five-wicket hauls, cementing his status as a potent force in the bowling department
Here’s the list of bowlers with most five-wicket hauls to their name:
Muttiah Muralitharan – 67
Shane Warne – 37
Richard Hadlee – 36
Anil Kumble – 35
Rangana Herath – 34
Ravichandran Ashwin – 33
