Ashwin surpasses Harbhajan to become India's third-highest wicket-taker in Tests

In the list of the most wickets an Indian bowler has taken in a Test, Ravichandran Ashwin passed former cricketer Harbhajan Singh. The feat was achieved on the 5th day of the Kanpur Test against New Zealand.
Before the first Test, Ashwin had taken 413 wickets. On Day 4, he took a wicket to equal Harbhajan’s record of 417 wickets. He became India’s third-highest wicket-taker in Test matches when he bowled the Kiwi opener, Tom Latham, on Day 5.

The only bowlers ahead of Ashwin with more wickets than him are Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434). Harbhajan Singh took 418 wickets in only 103 matches, while Ashwin reached that mark in only 80 matches. Additionally, Ashwin’s average of 24.56 is significantly better than Harbhajan’s strike rate of 52.47. To win in Kanpur, the Kiwis had to score 280 runs on a fifth-day track starting on 4/1. They played out the first session without losing a wicket as overnight batsmen William Sommerville and Tom Latham did not concede a wicket.

As soon as the Lunch break ended, Umesh Yadav struck with the first ball of the game to dismiss Sommerville. Kane Williamson joined Latham as they formed a defying partnership before Ashwin broke through. As a result of the low bounce, Latham was sent back. Now let’s wait and see how things unfold!