In the recent India vs. England 3rd Test in Rajkot, veteran spinner R Ashwin achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the fastest Indian bowler to claim 500 wickets in Test cricket, achieving this feat in just 98 matches. His 500th wicket came with the dismissal of Zak Crawley.
Ashwin now stands as the only Indian bowler, following the legendary Anil Kumble, to accomplish this milestone. Kumble holds the record for the highest number of wickets taken by an Indian bowler in Test cricket, with 619 scalps to his credit.
At 37 years old, Ashwin joins Sri Lanka’s Muttaiah Muralidaran as the only bowlers to reach 500 Test wickets in fewer than 100 matches. Muralidaran achieved this milestone in just 87 matches. Ashwin has consistently set records throughout his career, being the fastest in the world to reach various wicket milestones, including 250 and 300 Test wickets.
While Muthaiah Muralidaran leads the red-ball cricket’s wicket-taker list with 800 wickets in 133 matches, other notable bowlers include Shane Warne, James Anderson, Anil Kumble, and Stuart Broad.
Ashwin also holds the distinction of being the quickest bowler in Test history to reach 300 wickets, surpassing the likes of Dennis Lillee and Shane Warne in 2017.
In the same vein, he became the second-fastest bowler to reach 400 wickets in Test cricket, accomplishing this milestone in his 77th Test match for India. This record was previously held solely by Muralitharan.
Ashwin’s achievement of 500 Test wickets in his 98th Test match places him among an elite group of bowlers, making him the ninth overall and second Indian player to reach this milestone. Additionally, he ranks second only to Australia’s Glenn McGrath in terms of the fewest deliveries taken to reach 500 Test wickets.
At 37 years and 152 days old, Ashwin is also the second-oldest player after Courtney Walsh to reach the landmark of 500 Test wickets, further solidifying his status as one of cricket’s greats.
