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Cricket enthusiasts witnessed a historic moment in the ongoing third Test of the England red-ball tour to India at Rajkot. The maestro Ravichandran Ashwin achieved a remarkable milestone of 500th Test wickets. The cricketing world stood in awe as batter Zak Crawley became the 500th prey of Ashwin’s illustrious career. This achievement solidifies Ashwin’s position as one of the modern-day greats and marks him as only the second Indian to reach this monumental milestone.
Elite entry into the 500 Wicket Club
Ashwin’s entry into the exclusive 500-wicket club is a testament to his skill, dedication, and longevity in the sport. Only a handful of bowlers have reached this milestone, making it a prestigious achievement. The off-spinner joined an elite list of cricketing legends, annexing the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Anil Kumble, Stuart Broad, Courtney Walsh and Nathan Lyon.
Second Indian to achieve the feat
With this accomplishment, Ashwin becomes only the second Indian bowler to reach the milestone of 500 Test wickets, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Kumble. The comparison is inevitable, and it prompts reflections on the evolution of spin bowling in Indian cricket, with Ashwin carving out his unique niche.
Also READ – Fastest to 500 Test wickets in terms of balls; Ravichandran Ashwin at No. 2
Chasing Muralitharan’s Record
Not only did Ashwin join the elite 500-wicket club, but he also etched his name as the second-fastest bowler to reach this milestone (98 games), trailing only behind the stalwart Sri Lankan Muralitharan (87 games). The parallels between the two spin maestros add an extra layer of significance to the 37-year-old’s achievement, emphasizing his exceptional pace in reaching this landmark.
The Chennai-born-cricketer’s feat makes him the ninth bowler in the rich history of cricket to claim 500 Test wickets. This position in the top echelons of the sport underlines the enduring legacy he is creating, and it cements his place as one of the all-time greats.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Congratulations @ashwinravi99 on this incredible achievement. Thank you for making us proud #ashwin500
— Dhanush (@dhanushkraja) February 16, 2024
The SECOND-FASTEST bowler to 500 Test wickets 🇮🇳
Ash Anna 🐐🫡 pic.twitter.com/gd6D9liZrS
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) February 16, 2024
Ash Ash Ash Ash Ash!! #Ashwin500 ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/kudSbNc4Tn
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) February 16, 2024
From Chennai to the cricketing cosmos, @ashwinravi99's journey to 500 Test wickets is a saga of grit, guile, and unrivaled skill. A monumental achievement that cements his legacy in the annals of cricketing history.
Bravo, Ashwin!#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/R7hNC7QV9M— DK (@DineshKarthik) February 16, 2024
Moment when Ravi Ashwin reached his 500th Test wicket. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/MUlGtPgm9c
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 16, 2024
500 Test wickets for a one-in-a-million bowler!
In AshWIN the SpinNER, there was always a WINNER. 500 wickets is a huge milestone in Test cricket. Congratulations, Champion!#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Cb48ZJE3XO
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 16, 2024
Ravichandran Ashwin removes Zak Crawley to complete 500 wickets in Test cricket#cricket #INDvENG #Ashwin #INDvsENG #CricketTimes #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/JuUSH8cOOg
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) February 16, 2024
Ravi Ashwin is the fastest Indian in Test cricket to:
50 wickets, 100 wickets, 150 wickets, 200 wickets, 250 wickets, 300 wickets, 350 wickets, 400 wickets, 450 wickets and now 500 wickets. 🐐 pic.twitter.com/94OzYGang8
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) February 16, 2024
Hats off to @ashwinravi99 for achieving an incredible feat of securing 500 test wickets. Your outstanding talent and unwavering commitment have left a lasting mark in cricketing history.@BCCI pic.twitter.com/Hxrr1bP71K
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) February 16, 2024
Ash Anna, 500 wicket chaukanna! 👌
Congratulations on a very special milestone @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/DR67V98VuP— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) February 16, 2024
Ash Anna 🔥pic.twitter.com/sGwKBm7MV0
— Hemanth Shaiva (@HemanthShaiva) February 16, 2024
Congratulation to @ashwinravi99 on achieving the 500 Test wicket milestone. Many more to come. 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/XANzv1Lcn7
— Nathan Lyon (@NathLyon421) February 16, 2024