On the second day (16 February 2024) of the third test match between India and England Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed his 500th wicket after taking Zak Crawley’s wicket. He is the second Indian and ninth bowler in the world, who took 500 wicket milestone in test cricket history. Ashwin is the second Indian after Anil Kumble who achieved this incredible moment. Ashwin also is the second bowler in the world who took 500 wickets in just 98 matches ( after Muttiah Muralidaran who did it in just 87 matches) and Anil Kumble in 105 test matches.
Journey of Ravichandran Ashwin from a Batsman to Off Spin Bowler.
Ravichandran Ashwin is an Indian international cricketer who is widely regarded as one of the most prolific off spinners of all time. He is a right-arm off spin bowler and a lower order batter who represents the Indian cricket team and was part of the Indian team that won the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. He is also a key player for the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Ashwin was born on 17 September 1986 in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, into a Tamil-Brahmin family with a sports background. His father, Ravichandran, used to play cricket at the club level as a fast bowler. Ashwin started playing cricket at the age of seven and joined a cricket academy run by former Indian bowler WV Raman. He was initially a batsman who could bowl a bit, but later switched to off spin bowling under the guidance of his coach Sunil Subramaniam.
Debut :
Ashwin made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in 2006 and impressed with his bowling and batting skills. He was selected for the Indian A team and the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL. He made his international debut for India in 2010 in a T20 match against Zimbabwe. He soon became a regular member of the Indian limited-overs team and made his Test debut in 2011 against West Indies. He took nine wickets in his first Test match and became the third Indian to win the Man of the Match award on debut.
Records on the name of Ashwin
Ashwin has since established himself as one of the best spinners in the world and has broken several records in his career. He is the fastest bowler to reach 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 wickets in Test cricket. He is the second-fastest to reach 200 Test wickets, behind only Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett. The mastery in crickets is shown by some records like:-
- He is the only bowler to take four or more wickets in an innings in four consecutive Test matches.
- He is the only Indian to score a century and take five wickets in an innings in the same Test match on three occasions.
- He is the only Indian to win the ICC Cricketer of the Year award twice, in 2016 and 2017.
- He has won ten Man of the Series awards in Tests, which is the highest by an Indian and the second-most by any player, behind only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
Ashwin as a Batsman
Ashwin is not only a skilled bowler, but also a competent batsman who can play valuable knocks in the lower order. He has scored five centuries and 14 half-centuries in Tests, with a highest score of 124. He has also scored one century and 13 half-centuries in limited-overs cricket, with a highest score of 111. He is known for his innovative shots and his ability to adapt to different situations. He has also been involved in some memorable partnerships with other Indian batsmen, such as the 213-run stand with Virat Kohli against England in Mumbai in 2016 and the 62-run stand with Hanuma Vihari against Australia in Sydney in 2021.
Ravichandran Ashwin Experiments with Ball
Ashwin is also a cricket nerd who has a sharp brain and a masterly control over his off breaks. He is constantly experimenting with his variations, such as the carrom ball, the arm ball, the doosra and the leg break. He is also a keen student of the game who analyses the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition batsmen and plans his strategies accordingly. He is also a vocal leader on the field who guides and motivates his teammates. He is often seen engaging in banter with the opposition players and the umpires, which adds to his charisma and competitiveness.
Stats of Ravichandran Ashwin:
As a Bowler :
| Format | Mat | Inns | Overs | Runs | Wkts | Best | Eco |
| Test | 98 | 184 | 4291.3 | 11974 | 500 | 7/59 | 2.79 |
| ODI | 116 | 114 | 1050.3 | 5180 | 156 | 4/25 | 4.93 |
| T20s | 65 | 65 | 242 | 1672 | 72 | 4/8 | 6.9 |
| Format | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100s | 50s |
| Test | 98 | 139 | 3308 | 124 | 26.67 | 5 | 14 |
| ODI | 116 | 63 | 707 | 65 | 16.44 | 0 | 1 |
| T20s | 65 | 19 | 184 | 31* | 26.28 | 0 | 0 |
Personal Life
Outside of cricket, Ashwin lives a tranquil personal life with his wife Prithi and two daughters, Akhira and Aadhya. He married his childhood friend Prithi on 13 November 2011, after they studied together in the same school and college. He is a devout Hindu who follows the traditions and rituals of his community. He is also a movie buff who loves watching Tamil and Hindi films. He is frequently seen at film premieres in Chennai and has also expressed his desire to act in movies someday.
Ravichandran Ashwin is undoubtedly one of the greatest cricketers of his generation and a pride of India. He has achieved many milestones in his career and has many more to come. He is an inspiration for millions of young cricketers who aspire to emulate his skills and success. He is a true champion who plays the game with passion, dedication and intelligence. He is a cricket nerd with a sharp brain and masterly control.
Also read story of Sarfaraz Khan who make debut in Indian Test Cricket Team.