Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday entered a historic list in Test cricket after surpassing the legendary Kapil Dev during the third day of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
With the dismissal of Charith Asalanka after Tea on the third day, Ashwin took his career wicket tally to 435 in the Test match, a figure that took him past Kapil to place him in the ninth spot in the all-time list of highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. He got the ball to drift into Asaalanka, drawing him forward into defence as the delivery got an extra bounce, took the outside edge and went straight to Virat Kohli at slip.
He dismissed opener Lahiru Thirimanne and Dhananjaya de Silva in the first innings of the Test, finishing with 2 for 49 in 20 overs, and picked Thirimanne, Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka in the second innings.
India vs Sri Lanka Live Score, 1st Test, Day 3
He is now the second-highest Indian wicket-taker in Tests after Anil Kumble's tally of 619 wickets. He is also the fourth-highest wicket-taker amongst spinners after he surpassed Sri Lankan great Rangana Herath during the Mohali Test. The other spinners include Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) and Shane Warne (708 wickets). He is also the second highest wicket-taker among off-spinners after Muralitharan.
{{/usCountry}}He is now the second-highest Indian wicket-taker in Tests after Anil Kumble's tally of 619 wickets. He is also the fourth-highest wicket-taker amongst spinners after he surpassed Sri Lankan great Rangana Herath during the Mohali Test. The other spinners include Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) and Shane Warne (708 wickets). He is also the second highest wicket-taker among off-spinners after Muralitharan.
{{/usCountry}}Earlier in the Test, Ravindra Jadeja's magnificent Test double of an unbeaten 175 and 5 for 41 helped India enforce a follow-on in Mohali. The record-breaking knock, the highest for an Indian at No.7 in Tests surpassing Kapil Dev, helped India amass 574 for 8 before they declared. Jadeja's five-wicket haul, tenth in his career and first in five years, helped India fold the visitors for just 174 runs.