Ashwin becomes the second India to pick 500 Test Wickets

R Ashwin became the ninth man overall, and only the second Indian to take 500 Test wickets. The veteran off spinner got to the landmark dismissing England’s Zak Crawley on the second day of the Rajkot Test. He is now also the second fastest to achieve this feat, reaching there in only his 98th Test appearance. 

Ashwin’s 500th scalp was a much needed one for India as the English openers had responded to India's first innings total of 445 with a bang. Ben Duckett and Crawley put on a 89 run stand inside 13 overs. The wily fox broke the partnership by having Crawley top edging a sweep to Rajat Patidar at short fine leg.

Ashwin, who made his first appearance for India in November 2011, has been key to India’s dominance at home for over a decade and half. Altogether, he has registered 34 five-wicket hauls and eight match hauls of 10 or more. Anil Kumble with 619 wickets is the only Indian ahead of Ashwin on the wicket takers’ tally in Tests. He is also only the third offspinner to make it to the list, alongside Muthiah Muralidaran and Nathan Lyon. 

His 500th scalp was his tenth in the ongoing series. His has had figures of 3/68 and 3/126 in the first innings followed by 0/61 and 3/72 in the second in Visakhapatnam