India’s star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has become the fastest bowler to reach 25 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
Ashwin roared back to form in spectacular style on the fourth day of the second Test against Australia in Bengaluru, picking six wickets as Team India beat the Aussies by 75 runs to level the four-match series by 1-1.
The Chennai lad achieved the unique feat of 25 five-wicket hauls in 88 innings ahead of Sri Lankan great Mutthiah Muralitharan (100) and legendary New Zealand pacer Richard Hadlee (111).
List of Ashwin’s 5-wicket hauls against Test playing nations:
1.) New Zealand – 6
2.) Australia – 5
3.) South Africa – 4
4.) West Indies – 4
5.) England – 3
6.) Sri Lanka – 2
7.) Bangladesh – 1
The 32 year-old also became the fastest Indian bowler to pick 200 Test wickets in India. He took just 30 matches to reach this tally at home. With 269 wickets under his belt, he became the fifth highest wicket-taker for India and surpassed legendary Bishan Singh Bedi, who claimed 266 wickets.
