Mohali, March 6: Premier India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Sunday (March 6) added another feather in his illustrious cap when he leapfrogged legendary Kapil Dev to become the second leading wicket-taker for India in Test cricket.
Ashwin now has 435 Test wickets to his name and the off-spinner surpassed legendary India all-rounder, Dev (434 wickets), on day three of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.
The 35-year-old Tamil Nadu spinner dismissed Sri Lanka batter Charith Asalanka to achieve yet another milestone in his career. Asalanka was caught at slip cordon by Virat Kohli to become Ashwin's 435th victim in the red-ball format.
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Earlier in the game, Ashwin - who is playing his 85th Test - left behind Sri Lankan spin great Rangana Herath (433 wickets) to enter in top ten leading wicket-takers in Test cricket.
Ashwin is now only behind legendary India spinner Anil Kumble as the second leading wicket-taker in the red-ball format. Kumble has picked up 619 Test wickets in 132 games and is fourth in the all-time leading wicket-taker in world cricket.
Ashwin - who is overall ninth in the list - will now be looking to surpass former South Africa pace legend, Dale Steyn. Steyn picked up 439 wickets in 93 Tests and Ashwin has an opportunity to achieve this feat in the ongoing two-Test series against Sri Lanka.
India will be playing the second Test against Sri Lanka in Bengaluru, which is another spinner's paradise.
Leading wicket-takers in Tests:
PLAYER | MATCHES | WICKETS |
Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) | 133 | 800 |
Shane Warne (Australia) | 145 | 708 |
James Anderson (England) | 169 | 640 |
Anil Kumble (India) | 132 | 619 |
Glenn McGrath (Australia) | 124 | 563 |
Stuart Broad (England) | 152 | 537 |
Courtney Walsh (West Indies) | 132 | 519 |
Dale Steyn (South Africa) | 93 | 439 |
R Ashwin (India) | 85 | 436 |
Kapil Dev (India) | 131 | 434 |