After playing only 37 matches, Ravichandran Ashwin has been earmarked for great things in Test cricket. The off-spinner recently became the second fastest bowler to take 200 Test wickets when he dismissed New Zealand captain Kane Williamson in the second innings of the first Test at Kanpur. Ashwin is only behind former Australia legspinner Clarrie Grimmett who reached the milestone in 36 Tests.
The Tamil Nadu bowler is easily dismantling the opposition batsmen in subcontinental conditions. With India scheduled to play 7 more Tests in the coming months, we are taking a look at five records that the Indian spinner can break:
5. Indian bowler with most wickets in a calendar year:
The record for most dismissals in a calendar year by an Indian bowler is currently held by the legendary Kapil Dev. The first Indian bowler to surpass the 400-wickets mark in Test cricket, Kapil Dev took 75 wickets in 18 Tests in 1983.
Meanwhile, after taking 17 wickets on the West Indies tour, Ashwin finished the first Test by taking 10 wickets. With India still to play 7 Tests in favourable conditions, the bowler has the ability to take the remaining 50 wickets to surpass his illustrious predecessor. Last year he took 62 wickets in only 9 matches and the form he is in right now he can easily break Kapil Dev’s record.
The all-time record for most Test dismissals in a calendar year is held by former Australian spinner Shane Warne who took an astonishing 96 wickets in only 15 matches in 2005.