Ravichandran Ashwin will be fancying his chances of breaking a second Test cricket record in as many matches when he takes the field for India against England. India will be playing the fourth Test of the ongoing five-match Test series against England at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi, starting from Friday, February 23. The hosts head into this Test on the back of a lopsided 434-run victory in the third Test in Rajkot, which saw Ashwin pick up his 500th wicket in all-white. It was his 98th Test, making him the fastest Indian bowler to achieve the milestone and the second-fastest behind Sri Lankan legend Muthiah Muralidaran. Ashwin also became only the second Indian bowler in history after legendary leg spinner Anil Kumble to have 500 Test wickets to their name.
IND vs ENG, 4th Test Day 1 – LIVE
Now, in the fourth Test in Ranchi, which will be Ravichandran Ashwin's 99th Test for India, the 37-year-old off spinner will be looking to break another record in Test cricket. Anil Kumble holds the record for the most Test wickets by an Indian bowler at home, having claimed 350 wickets in 63 Tests at an average of 24.88. Ashwin, meanwhile, is currently playing his 59th Test in India and has 348 scalps to his name at an astonishing average of 21.31.
Not just that, but Ravichandran Ashwin could also equal Anil Kumble's record of most five-wicket hauls in India; Kumble has taken 35 fifers in Tests in India, while Ashwin has 34.
If Ravichandran Ashwin manages to pick three or more two or more wickets in the fourth Test against England, he will become only the fifth bowler in cricket history to bag 350 wickets in Tests at home, joining Muthiah Muralidaran, James Anderson, Stuart Board, and Anil Kumble in an exclusive list. Muralidaran has 493 wickets from 73 Tests in Sri Lanka, coming at a ridiculous average of 19.56. England's Anderson is the only other bowler on the list to bag 400 Test wickets or more at home.
Speaking of England, Ashwin might become the first-ever bowler in Test cricket history to claim 100 wickets against the side. The legendary offie has 99 wickets from 22 Tests against the Englishmen, which includes six five-wicket hauls.
All eyes will be on Ravichandran Ashwin in Ranchi, not only because of the fact that he can break a flurry of records, but also because he will be expected to be even more lethal in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested for the fourth Test.
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