Top 3 fastest Indians to achieve the double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests ft. Ravindra Jadeja
Ravindra Jadeja became the seventh Indian bowler to reach 300 wickets in the Test format against Bangladesh on Monday (September 30). The all-rounder also joined the elite club of cricketers to score 3,000 runs and take 300 wickets in the longest format.
Making his Test debut in December 2012, Jadeja has grown into a stature due to his consistent performance for the Indian team. Along with the ball, the southpaw has been equally good with the bat and has rescued India from precarious situations on many occasions.
So far, only 11 cricketers have been able to reach this milestone in their career. Out of them, three are Indian players, including Ravindra Jadeja. Let's take a look at the other two players who have achieved this feat during their international careers.
#3 Ravichandran Ashwin - 88 matches
Veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin attained this elite record in his 88th Test appearance against Bangladesh in Mirpur in December 2022.
Interestingly, Ashwin had already breached the 400-wicket mark ahead of this Test match. Nevertheless, he took a total of six wickets in the game. The second innings saw him contribute a crucial 42* to help India win by three wickets and also reach the 3000-run mark in the longest format.
Recently, the 38-year-old climbed to the eighth spot among the list of highest wicket-takers in the Test format. In 101 games, he has scalped 522 wickets and garnered over 3,400 runs.
#2 Kapil Dev - 83 matches
Kapil Dev ranks second on the list of fastest Indians to achieve the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in the Test format. 'The Haryana Hurricane' became the first Indian to reach the milestone in his 83rd Test match against Sri Lanka in Cuttack in January 1987.
Dev had already scored over 3000 runs; however, he reached the mark of 300 Test wickets in this game. He contributed 60 and returned with four scalps in the first innings, as India secured a lead of 209 runs.
Thereafter, Sri Lanka were enforced a follow-on and Dev managed to take a solitary dismissal to enter the 300-wicket club. In the end, India won by an innings and 67 runs.
Kapil Dev is notably the only player in the history of the sport to score 5,000 runs and take more than 400 wickets in the Test format.
#1 Ravindra Jadeja - 74 matches
The talented all-rounder became the second-fastest player in Test history to complete a double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets. The ongoing game against Bangladesh in Kanpur is Ravindra Jadeja's 74th Test appearance. Ian Botham holds the record for reaching this milestone in his 72nd Test appearance.
Nevertheless, Jadeja has now surpassed Kapil Dev and Ravichandran Ashwin to become the fastest Indian to accomplish this achievement. He secured a caught and bowled dismissal of Khaled Ahmed to complete 300 wickets in the red-ball format.
Interestingly, he is also the first Indian left-arm spinner to reach this elusive milestone.
In February 2024, Ravindra Jadeja completed 3,000 Test runs on his home ground, Rajkot against England. He slammed 112 in the first innings, as India went on to win the game by 434 runs.