Ravichandran Ashwin surpasses Nathan Lyon to become the highest wicket-taker in World Test Championship
Breaking records has become routine for India's Ravichandran Ashwin and the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune was no different. The 38-year-old surpassed fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon and became the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC).
Ashwin started the ongoing second Test on 186 wickets, one behind Lyon, and equaled the Aussie off-spinner when he dismissed Kiwi skipper Tom Latham. The Tamil Nadu spinner then removed Will Young caught behind to overtake Lyon's mark of 188 wickets in the WTC.
Incidentally, the second wicket also leveled him with Lyon on overall Test wickets with 530. However, Ashwin broke the tie and went ahead of Lyon to seventh place with his 531st scalp when he dismissed opener Devon Conway in the post-lunch session.
Coming to the WTC tally, Ashwin's 189 wickets have come in only 39 matches at a stellar average of 20.75. This includes a remarkable 11 five-wicket and 9 four-wicket hauls.
The Aussie pace duo of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are 3rd and 4th on the WTC wickets list with 175 and 147, respectively.
Ashwin and Lyon will battle each other in the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, starting on November 22.
Ravichandran Ashwin's opening burst helps India bowl New Zealand out for a sub-par total
Coming to the second Test, Ravichandran Ashwin provided Team India with the ideal start on Day 1 in Pune after the shocking first Test defeat.
The veteran spinner removed the top three New Zealand batters to keep a check on proceedings at 138/3. Thereafter, Ashwin's Tamil Nadu teammate Washington Sundar took over with a remarkable spell of spin bowling.
Playing in his first Test match since March 2021, Sundar took the final seven Kiwi wickets with a sensational spell to help India dismiss them for a sub-par 259 in the first innings.
The Blackcaps were cruising at 197/3 at one stage even after Ashwin's burst but Sundar's brilliance led to a collapse that saw the visitors lose their final seven wickets for only 62 runs.
The 25-year-old finished with incredible figures of 7/59 in 23.1 overs - his maiden five-wicket haul in Tests. Meanwhile, Ashwin rebounded from his rare off game in the first Test with figures of 3/64 in 22 overs.