Ashwin Set to Match Virat Kohli’s Record in His Centenary Test

Dharamsala, India – The cricketing world is abuzz with anticipation as the 5th IND vs ENG Test match in Dharamsala approaches. The spotlight is on Indian spin maestro, Ravichandran Ashwin, as he is set to play his 100th Test match.

Ashwin, who made his Test debut in Delhi in November 2011, has been a pivotal figure in the Indian cricket team. He has an impressive tally of 507 wickets in 99 Test matches, making him the second highest wicket-taker in Test for India, just behind Anil Kumble.

In this match, Ashwin is poised to equal a unique record held by former Indian skipper, Virat Kohli. If India emerges victorious in the upcoming match, Ashwin will become the second player to feature in the most number of wins in Tests for India. Currently, Kohli is placed second with 59 wins while Ashwin has 58 Test wins. The record for the most wins for India in Test is held by Sachin Tendulkar with 72 victories.

Ashwin’s journey to his 100th Test has been marked by numerous achievements. In the 3rd Test of the ongoing series, Ashwin achieved a significant milestone by becoming the ninth player and the second Indian bowler, following Anil Kumble, to reach 500 Test wickets. This achievement places him in the esteemed company of bowling legends like Muthiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kumble, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh, and Nathan Lyon.

Despite these achievements, Ashwin acknowledges the need for constant self-reflection and improvement. “My biggest pain has been the fact that I don’t enjoy my success as much as I should have. But, that has also helped me become a better cricketer. I have constantly looked for things to improve and I have made sure that I am very uncomfortable with who I am on a particular day. And then I get back to the drawing board and focus on what else I can do to bring more to the table,” Ashwin said.

As Ashwin steps onto the field for his 100th Test, the cricketing world will be watching with bated breath. Will he match Kohli’s record? Only time will tell.