World's number 1 Test bowler Ravichandran Ashwin added yet another achievement to his credit as he surpassed legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev to become the third-highest wicket taker for India across the three formats of the game. He achieved the feat on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test match between India and Australia at the Holkar Cricket Stadium on Friday.
The veteran India off-spinner got the wicket of Alex Carey, getting him out Leg Before Wicket (LBW) to take his tally of international wickets to 688 in what was his 347th innings, going past the country's World Cup-winning captain who had taken 687 wickets in 448 innings while representing the country.
It is however, pertinent to note, that while Dev played only the Test matches and the ODIs, Ashwin has played all the three formats of the game with 466 scalps from 171 innings in the longest format,151 ODI wickets in addition to 72 wickets in the game's shortest format.
Only Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh now have more wickets for India across formats than Ashwin. While Kumble ended his career with 953 wickets in 499 innings, Harbhajan has 707 international dismissals to his name from 442 innings.
India need an Ashwin-Jadeja special in fourth innings of Indore Test
Talking about the Indore Test match, India would need an Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja special with them set to defend not too many in the third Test match. After opting to bat first, India were bowled out for 109. In response, Australia took a 88-run lead, managing 197.
On a track which has offered sharp spin right from first session of Day 1, only India's Cheteshwar Pujara managed to offer some real resistance, scoring a gritty half-century eventually getting out for 59 on his 142 deliveries. With his wicket, India are in danger of setting a target for Australia of less than a 100 runs with over 3 days remaining in the Test matches.