Ravichandran Ashwin, the veteran Indian spinner, made history by breaking the record for the most wickets taken by an Indian bowler against England in Test cricket. He achieved this feat on Monday, February 5, 2024, in the second Test match at Vizag, where he surpassed BS Chandrasekhar’s tally of 95 wickets.
With 97 wickets against England, Ashwin has left behind other Indian bowling legends such as Chandrasekhar (95), Anil Kumble (92), Bishan Singh Bedi (85), Kapil Dev (85), and Ishant Sharma (67). The off-spinner has cemented his legacy in Indian cricket history with his stellar performance.
India were in a strong position in the second Test, as they marched towards a win. England resumed the day at 67/1 and faced a tough challenge from the Indian bowlers. By lunch, England had lost six wickets for 194 runs, with Ashwin being the main tormentor.
Ashwin showed his class as he removed Ollie Pope (23; off 21 balls) and Joe Root (16; off 10 balls) in vital overs. The spinner, who excels in the longest format, broke Chandrasekhar’s record by taking his 96th and 97th wickets against England in the second Test. His wickets gave India a firm grip on the match.
Sharp Reflexes edition, ft. captain Rohit Sharma! 👌 👌
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 5, 2024
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Akshar Patel also joined the party, as he dismissed night watchman Rehan Ahmed (23; off 31 balls). Jack Crawley (73; 132 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (26; off 36 balls) tried to steady the ship, reaching 194/4 at lunch. But India bounced back and took wickets in quick succession.
Kuldeep Yadav trapped Crawley lbw, getting the decision on review. Bumrah then sent back Bairstow, leaving Ben Stokes as the only threat. England needed 205 more runs to win, but they had to face the Indian bowlers.
Ashwin’s record-breaking feat was a continuation of his brilliant form from the first Test in Hyderabad. He did not get a wicket in the first innings of the Vizag Test, but he came back strongly in the second innings, taking three vital wickets.
India had the upper hand in the Test match, as they set England a target of 399 runs. The English batsmen, led by Crawley (73), started aggressively. But Akshar Patel’s breakthrough and Ashwin’s wickets of Pope (23) and Root (16) derailed England’s chase.
On the fourth day, England were 246 for 7, with Ben Foakes being the only recognised batsman left. England had a mountain to climb to reach the target.
India (IND) vs England (ENG) 2nd Test, Day 4 Highlights: India have won the second Test by 106 runs to draw level in the 5-match series. Jasprit Bumrah dismissed James Anderson to pull the curtains down on the Vizag Test.
To sum up, Ravichandran Ashwin’s historic feat of becoming India’s highest wicket-taker against England is a testament to his brilliance. As he keeps breaking records, he plays a key role in India’s dominance in the ongoing Test series against England. Cricket fans are eagerly waiting for Ashwin to reach the 500-wicket mark, further establishing his place as one of India’s best spinners.
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