Cricket News By TODAYLIVESCORE.INFO - To go past Harbhajan in 80 Tests is phenomenal achievement: Dravid on Ashwin. Ashwin is now India's third-highest wicket-taker in Tests.
Ashwin is now India's third-highest wicket-taker in Tests.
Ravichandran Ashwin might be ruing not picking up the final New Zealand wicket in Kanpur but the Test match came with some great personal milestone for him. He's now India's third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket behind Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev, and has gone past Harbhajan Singh's tally (417) in the process. What stands out is that Ashwin has done so in 23 fewer Tests than Harbhajan.
Rahul Dravid, the current India head coach, has played alongside both the spinners and called Ashwin's feat a “phenomenal achievement.”
“Harbhajan was a really fine bowler, someone I've played a lot of cricket with. He was a terrific bowler for India and what Ashwin's done to be able to go past in just 80 Test matches is a phenomenal achievement,” Dravid said.
“Ashwin has been an absolute match winner for India, even today you saw on this difficult wicket the way he pulled us back into the game (and also) on that third morning with that spell of 11 overs. And today just to keep us alive in the game is a tribute to his skill and ability. I think he's just evolved, he keeps growing. He's one of those guys who keeps thinking about the game, keeps changing, keeps evolving. That's why he's got where he has. You don't achieve what Ashwin has achieved without growing and improving and evolving. It's a pleasure to have someone like him in the dressing room and to work with him. It's phenomenal and really happy for what he's achieved.”
Harbhajan Turbanator @harbhajan_singh Congratulations @ashwinravi99 wish you many more brother.. God bless.. keep shining 👏👏 08:59 AM • Nov 11, 2021
Ashwin himself said that going past Harbhajan's wicket tally meant “absolutely nothing at all” and he's just happy to be making memories along the way.
“I know these are milestones that are constantly kept on tab and it's wonderful. Rahul bhai, ever since he's taken over, he's kept saying the same thing. How many ever wickets you take, how many ever runs you make, in 10 years time you won't remember them. It's the memories that matter. So I really want to have some special memories going forward in the next three, four years.
“Look, the beauty of Test cricket is that you need to want it. It's really, really hard. It's not one of those formats where you turn up, have a good day, have a good four-over bowl or have a good bat in 20 overs. You need to want it. There is a lot of pain, there is a lot of hard work, there is a lot of tenacity that you need to bring into play, so you need to want it and definitely I am someone who wants to play this format and I enjoy it.”
