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Team India are gearing up for the highly anticipated second and final Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to begin on September 27 at Green Park in Kanpur. Historically, the ground has been a fortress for India, where the Men in Blue have emerged victorious in 7 out of the 23 Test matches played, losing only 3, with 13 games ending in a draw. As India aims to clinch the series, the conditions in Kanpur, known to assist spinners, might once again be favorable for Ravichandran Ashwin to work his magic.
India dominates in the first Test
In the opening Test, India showcased a comprehensive team effort, with Ashwin, Rishabh Pant, and Shubman Gill emerging as the standout performers. Pant and Gill anchored India’s innings with centuries, putting the team in a commanding position. However, it was Ashwin who truly stole the limelight, delivering a match-winning performance by not only scoring a vital century but also claiming a six-wicket haul. His all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award, and he will be key once again as India heads into the second Test in Kanpur.
Ashwin also equaled the legendary Shane Warne in securing the second-most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket history. With the second Test in Kanpur approaching, Ashwin is on the verge of several personal milestones, adding another layer of excitement to an already thrilling series.
5 milestones Ravichandran Ashwin can attain in the 2nd Test against Bangladesh
1. Highest Wicket-Taker in India versus Bangladesh Tests
One of the significant records Ashwin could achieve in the upcoming match is becoming the highest wicket-taker in India vs Bangladesh Tests. The Chennai-born off-spinner is just three wickets away from surpassing Zaheer Khan‘s 31 wickets to claim this record. Given Bangladesh’s historical struggle against quality spin, this milestone is well within Ashwin’s reach at Green Park.
2. Second most 5-wicket hauls in Test cricket
Ashwin currently shares the record for the second-most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket with the late Warne, both tied at 37. A single five-wicket haul in Kanpur will push Ashwin to sole ownership of this position. Standing ahead of him is Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan, with a mammoth 67 five-wicket hauls. Achieving this feat would cement Ashwin’s status as one of the greatest spinners in the game.
3. Leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship history
The World Test Championship (WTC) has seen Ashwin become one of its most dominant bowlers. He currently has 180 wickets in the WTC, trailing Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, who leads with 187. Ashwin needs just eight wickets to overtake Lyon and become the highest wicket-taker in WTC history.
Furthermore, in the current WTC cycle (2023-25), Ashwin needs only four wickets to surpass Josh Hazlewood and become the leading wicket-taker of the cycle. With 48 wickets in the ongoing cycle, Ashwin stands right behind Hazlewood’s 51, and given his form, he could overtake the Australian pacer in the very next match.
Also READ: IND vs BAN 2024, 2nd Test: Kanpur Weather Forecast, Test Stats & Records at Green Park
4. First Indian to take 100 wickets in fourth innings of Tests
Ashwin is just one wicket away from becoming the first Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in the fourth innings of a Test match. He currently holds 99 fourth-innings wickets, and this record is up for grabs in the Kanpur Test. Globally, only five bowlers have crossed the 100-wicket mark in the fourth innings, and Ashwin is on the brink of joining this elite group, underscoring his ability to perform under pressure when the match is on the line.
5. 7th highest wicket-taker in Test cricket
With 522 wickets in Test cricket from 101 matches, Ashwin is currently the 8th highest wicket-taker in the format. He is just nine wickets shy of surpassing Australia’s Lyon (530 wickets) to take the 7th spot in the all-time list. Given Ashwin’s consistency and the conditions at Kanpur, this milestone seems achievable in the upcoming Test.
