Ashwin becomes first bowler to take 50 wickets in 2021 as India inches closer to victory at Wankhede

Ravichandran Ashwin takes 50 wickets in a calender year for the 4th time in his test career as he goes past Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

With India inching closer to yet another test series victory at home, Ravichandran Ashwin has reached new heights of spin bowling as he became the 1st bowler to take 50 test wickets in 2021 with Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi 2nd on the list who has 44 wickets this year. Ashwin has also equalled the great Richard Hadlee for most wickets in Test matches played between India and New Zealand, standing one wicket away from surpassing the kiwi great in most wickets in the rivalry contest. Ashwin got his 65th wicket of the Ind-Nzl clash and it took 17 innings to take him ahead of Hadlee who reached the mark in 24 innings as he dismissed Ross Taylor on day 3 of the 2nd test at Wankhede Stadium.

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The off-spinners 4 wickets helped India dismiss New Zealand for just 62 in the 1st innings which is now the lowest total by any team against India in the history of Test cricket and has got another 3 off the 5 NZ’s wickets fell on Sunday. Ashwin dismissed New Zealand’s stand-in skipper Tom Latham in the 4th over for the record 8th time in tests and then got his opening partner Will Young in the 15th. Taylor also fell in the very next over.

The 35-year has taken 50 wickets in a calendar year for the 4th time in his career, he has moved past Anil Kumble who marked the feat thrice in his career. Ravi Ashwin has been in the sublime form this year too. Earlier in the Kanpur test, Ashwin went past Harbhajan Singh to become the 3rd highest wicket-taker for India in test cricket and now is only 9 dismissals away from overtaking India’s second-highest wicket-taker the legendary Kapil Dev.

Earlier in the day, India declared their 2nd innings on 276/7 with help of half century from Mayank Agarwal and a quick cameo from Axar Patel. Ajaz Patel who took all 10 wickets in the 1st innings finished with match figures of 14/225. New Zealand who is chasing the impossible-looking target of 540 has lost 5 wickets for 140 runs with Henry Nicholls 36* and Rachin Ravindra 2* at the crease trying to reduce the difference of defeat.