IND vs ENG: Ravichandran Ashwin Breaks Anil Kumble's Record To Become Second Fastest In World To 500 Test Wickets

IND vs ENG: Ravichandran Ashwin achieved the milestone on Day 2 of the third India vs England Test match at the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium in Rajkot on Friday (February 16).

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates after taking the wicket of Zak Crawley to reach his 500th Test Wicket during day two of the 3rd Test Match between India and England at Niranjan Shah Stadium on February 16, 2024 in Rajkot, India

Source : Getty

Ravichandran Ashwin became second fastest bowler to get to 500 test wickets. He achieved the milestone on Day 2 of the third India vs England Test match at the Niranjan Shah Cricket Stadium in Rajkot on Friday (February 16) when he got rid of England's Zak Crawley in his second over of the first innings. Ashwin happens to be the second highest wicket-taker in test cricket for India after Anil Kumble who has the record of total 619 wickets in his test career- the two being India's only representatives in the 500-wicket club. Muttiah Muralitharan has the most number of wickets in Test cricket history. The Sri Lankan spinner has a record of total 800 wickets in his career. 

So far, Ashwin has featured in 98 Test matches, 116 ODI matches and 65 T20 matches in International cricket, picking 500, 156 and 72 wickets in them respectively. The 38-year-old has been a proven match-winner for India in all the three formats and was also part of the 2011 ODI world cup winning team. However, his best has perhaps come in Test cricket as apart from his achievements with the ball, he has scored 3271 runs in this format including five 100s and fourteen 50s with an average of 26.59 and strike rate of 54.18, being the architect of several famous Indian wins.

𝗠𝘁. 𝟱𝟬𝟬! 🫡 🫡

Only the second #TeamIndia cricketer to reach this landmark in Tests 🙌 🙌

Congratulations, @ashwinravi99 👏 👏#INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/bP8wUs6rd0

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 16, 2024

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The fastest to 500 Test wickets was Murlitharan who got there in 87 matches and the second one, prior to Ashwin, was Anil Kumble in 105 matches. Ashwin became the 9th player to enter the 500-wicket club beating the likes of Anil Kumble, Shane Warne Glenn McGrath among others who all reached the milestone in more matches than him.

500 Test Wickets Club

Players	No. Of Wickets			Matches Played		Country
Muttiah Murlitharan		800		133		Sri Lanka
Shane Warne			708		145	Australia
James Anderson			690		183	England
Anil Kumble			619		132	India
Stuart Broad			604		167	England
Glenn McGrath			563		124	Australia
Courtney Walsh			519		132	West Indies
Nathan Lyon			500		123	Australia
Ravichandran Ashwin			500		98*	India