Among the 16 current members of the 400-victory club, Ashwin’s strike rate of 52.7 percent is the fourth-best in the world against New Zealand.
When Ravichandran Ashwin passed Harbhajan Singh in terms of most Test wickets, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid expressed appreciation to the off-spinner. Just after Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (619) is Ashwin in third place among Indians (434). After 80 Tests, Ashwin has 419 wickets, whereas Harbhajan has 417 wickets in 103 Tests. The experienced spinner, with whom Dravid shared the field for the majority of his Test career, has praised Ashwin for passing him in such a short period of time.
“It’s a remarkable accomplishment, in my opinion. The fact that Ashwin has passed Harbhajan Singh in just 80 Test matches is nothing short of remarkable, as I am sure you are aware. Harbhajan Singh was a fantastic bowler with whom I have shared many a game “David said this in a post-match press conference after his team’s victory against Australia.
In the longest format, Ashwin has been India’s most potent weapon and has triumphed with the ball as well as the bat on numerous occasions. Among the 16 bowlers with 400 Test wickets, Ashwin’s strike rate of 52.7 is fourth-best, behind Dale Steyn, Sir Richard Hadlee, and Glenn Mcgrath.
His strike rate is the highest among the group, which also includes giants like Anil Kumble, Shane Warne, and Muttiah Muralitharan, the world record holder in spin bowling.
Dravid, who shared the field with Ashwin near the conclusion of his Test career, reflected on Ashwin’s evolution as an off-spinner.
“He’s just kept evolving and expanding. In part, his success may be traced to his unwavering commitment to learning and adapting to the ever-evolving nature of the game. It is impossible to reach Ashwin’s level of success unless you always strive to improve and advance. Being around him in the dressing room and at work is a delight (with). His success makes me very glad “Dravid made the comment.
Ashwin made a valuable contribution to the team’s success on the field and in the bowling department. He had a match-high six wickets for 117 runs, including vital 38 and 32-ball performances in the first and second innings.
