IND vs SL 2017: Ravichandran Ashwin Can Finish with 500-600 Test Wickets – Sourav Ganguly
Nov 28, 2017 at 10:52 AM
Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has heaped lavish praise on off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who surpassed the 300-wicket mark in Tests during the second game against Sri Lanka in Nagpur.
The batting legend also backed India’s spin spearhead to play 100 Tests and breach the 500 or 600-wicket mark in the longest format of the game.
After a forgettable outing in the first Test at the Eden Gardens where he went wicketless on a pacer-friendly wicket, Ashwin bounced back in style in Nagpur by taking four wickets in each innings, as India decimated the Islanders by an innings and 239 runs to go one nil up in the three-match series.
“It’s a fantastic achievement in 50-odd Test matches. 300 wickets in 54 Test matches is a phenomenal record. Congratulations to him. He will go on to play 100 Test matches for India without a doubt, and he can finish with 500-600 Test wickets. So it’s a remarkable achievement,” Ganguly told India Today.
Ganguly was also quick to point out the difference in class between Ashwin and the other spinners.
“You can see the difference in class on the same pitch, you know. The Sri Lankan bowlers bowled…Rangana Herath and Dilruwan Perera and then you saw Ravichandran Ashwin on that surface. He just looked in a different league. Right from the top, a bit of bounce, little bit of grip from the surface. The accuracy and the control is remarkable. So congratulations to him and many many more to come,” he said.
Congratulations to @ashwinravi99 on reaching 300 Test wickets, the fastest player to reach the milestone, taking just 54 matches! #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/IW7lzG4ZMd
— ICC (@ICC) November 27, 2017
Ashwin’s 300th scalp made him the quickest to achieve the feat. He broke the record of the legendary Dennis Lillee who had set the record way back in 1981, taking 56 games to claim his 300th Test wicket. On the other hand, Ashwin took 54 matches to reach the milestone after he dismissed Lahiru Gamage in the second innings.
The Tamil Nadu ace, who was the top wicket-taker in Test cricket in the last two years, has a chance to finish this year as the top wicket-taker too if he manages to perform well in the third Test in Delhi. The off-spinner is currently second on the list with 52 wickets to his name, trailing South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada by just a couple of wickets.
Also Read: (Ravichandran Ashwin Thanks Virender Sehwag After Latter’s Prediction Goes Right)
(Stats: Ravichandran Ashwin Becomes Fastest Bowler to Reach 300 Test Wickets)