Ravichandran Ashwin etched his name in cricketing history as he became only the second Indian cricketer to achieve the remarkable milestone of 500 Test wickets. The 37-year-old offspinner reached this feat on the second day in Rajkot, dismissing England’s Zak Crawley in the final session of play. Ashwin’s landmark wicket came in his 98th Test match, making him the second-fastest player to reach this remarkable milestone.
Expressing his joy and gratitude, Ashwin dedicated this achievement to his father, acknowledging his unwavering support throughout his career. “I would like to dedicate this to my father, he’s responsible for everything I’ve done in my life,” said Ashwin. “He’s lived it through, had heart-attacks every time I’ve played.”
Ashwin’s pivotal scalp broke a threatening partnership after England’s openers had responded aggressively to India’s first-innings total of 445. Despite England’s strong batting display, Ashwin remained confident in India’s ability to bounce back. “We just need to hang in there and exercise best disciplines like you would in Test cricket,” he remarked.
Ashwin’s remarkable career includes 34 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket match hauls. He joins the illustrious company of legendary spinner Anil Kumble and becomes only the third offspinner in history to achieve this milestone, alongside Muthiah Muralidaran and Nathan Lyon. Ashwin’s exceptional performance in the ongoing series further solidifies his reputation as a key player in India’s dominance on home soil.