In his 100th Test match, R Ashwin became just the second bowler from India to take five wickets, following Anil Kumble. In Dharamsala on Day 3, Ashwin masterminded England’s batting collapse.
R Ashwin took five wickets in the second innings, adding even more memorable moments to his 100th Test appearance. On the third day of the series’ fifth and final Test match at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala, the off-spinner tore through the England batting order with a brilliant performance. After the illustrious quartet of Muttiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, and Anil Kumble, Ashwin became just the fourth bowler to take five wickets in his 100th Test match.
In the second session of Day 3, Ashwin accomplished the feat by dismissing England’s wicketkeeper-batter, Ben Foakes. Clutching his fists in delight, Ashwin relished the dismissal after squeezing one past the wicketkeeper’s pads and bat. Ashwin dismissed Foakes with a textbook off-spinner dismissal, giving the ball air and turning it sharply to force a rare wayward shot.
R Ashwin achieved his 36th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, surpassing Anil Kumble to become the most successful Indian ever.In the longest format of the game, Ashwin also tied Richard Hadlee for the record for most 5-wicket hauls among bowlers.
Additionally, R Ashwin accomplished a singular accomplishment by becoming the only bowler in Test cricket history to take five wickets in both his debut and 100th Test match.
After a sluggish start to the series, Ashwin became the most prolific wicket-taker. After taking five wickets in the second innings in the Ranchi Test, the off-spinner increased his career total to nine in his historic Test.
On Saturday, Ashwin went through England’s top order, getting rid of openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley before bringing Ollie Pope into the attack. Ben Stokes was dismissed for two by Ashwin shortly before the lunch break, which further wounded England.
