On October 24, Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin reached a major milestone by becoming the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) where he surpassed Australia’s Nathan Lyon. Ashwin achieved this on the first day of the second Test between India and New Zealand at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.
Since the WTC began in 2019, Ashwin has taken 189 wickets in 39 matches, with an impressive average of 20.71. On the other hand, Lyon has taken 187 wickets in 47 matches, averaging 26.70.
This puts Ashwin ahead of other top bowlers in the WTC, including Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, both with 175 wickets and Stuart Broad with 147. Ashwin’s consistent performance in Test cricket has made him one of India’s most valuable players.
In addition to his WTC record, Ashwin has now passed Nathan Lyon in overall Test cricket-wickets. After taking three wickets in the first session of the second Test in Pune, Ashwin reached a total of 531 wickets in just 104 matches. Lyon, despite playing 25 more Test matches, has 530 wickets. This makes Ashwin the most successful off-spinner in Test cricket, further solidifying his legacy.
Ashwin and Lyon have been the two most important off-spinners in Test cricket for years. While they compete fiercely on the field, especially during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the two share a good friendship off the field. Both players have shown respect for each other’s achievements, even though they are rivals on the pitch.
Ashwin’s excellent form continued in the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. After not taking any wickets in the second innings of the Bengaluru Test, he quickly bounced back, taking two wickets in the first session. He dismissed New Zealand captain Tom Latham for the eighth time in his career, showing his dominance over him.
Before the session ended, Ashwin also took the wicket of Will Young. Sarfaraz Khan, fielding at short leg, convinced captain Rohit Sharma to take a review, and the snickometer revealed a faint edge, leading to India’s second wicket.
Later in the match, Ashwin broke a strong partnership between Devon Conway and Rachin Ravindra by dismissing Conway, who was batting well at 76 from 141 balls. Ashwin once again showed his ability to take important wickets at crucial moments.
