In a remarkable achievement for Indian cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin has surpassed legendary leg spinner Anil Kumble to become the leading wicket-taker for Team India in the fourth innings of Test matches. Ashwin now boasts 99 wickets, eclipsing Kumble’s previous record of 94 wickets, further solidifying his status as one of the premier bowlers in the game.
Ashwin’s Historic Milestone
With this latest achievement, Ashwin has not only set a new benchmark for Indian bowlers but also showcased his exceptional skill and adaptability on various pitches. His ability to perform under pressure, especially in the critical final innings of a match, has been instrumental in many of India’s victories.
Most Wickets in Fourth Innings for India:
The updated list of most wickets taken by Indian bowlers in the fourth innings now stands as follows:
- 99 – Ravichandran Ashwin
- 94 – Anil Kumble
- 60 – Bishan Bedi
- 54 – Ishant Sharma / Ravindra Jadeja
A Thrilling Test Match Experience
The recent Test match against Bangladesh in Chennai provided a fitting backdrop for Ashwin’s achievement. The pitch offered a balanced contest between bat and ball, particularly favoring pace bowlers in the initial days. Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Hasan Mahmud made significant contributions, with Bumrah claiming four wickets on Day 2 and Mahmud achieving a five-wicket haul on Day 1.
Despite the challenging conditions, three Indian batsmen—Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill—each scored centuries, showcasing their batting prowess. Notably, Ashwin’s century was pivotal, coming at a time when India was struggling at 144/6 in the first innings. His partnership with Jadeja, which yielded 199 runs, helped India post a competitive total of 376 runs.
Bangladesh’s Struggles
On the other hand, Bangladesh entered this series with high hopes after their historic Test series win in Pakistan. However, they faced a steep challenge against an in-form Indian side. They were bowled inside 1.5 session in the first innings, for a meagre 149, giving India a lead of 227 runs.
In the second innings, After starting positively with an opening partnership that provided some resistance, Bangladesh collapsed from 205/5 to 234 all out, largely due to the spin duo of Ashwin and Jadeja.
Captain Shanto top-scored for Bangladesh with an impressive 82 runs, but he lacked support from his teammates. The Indian spinners dominated the final innings, with Ashwin finishing with six wickets and Jadeja contributing three. This comprehensive performance led India to take a commanding 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
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