During the crucial third day of the fourth Test of the five-match India vs England 2023/24 Test series at Ranchi, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s brilliant fifer guided the hosts India to make a strong comeback in the Test match. With that bowling performance, Ashwin broke the legendary Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble’s record for most Test wickets in India.
Indian spinners bowled brilliantly in the third innings of the 2024 Ranchi Test as England were bundled out for only 145 runs, and the hosts got the fourth innings target of 192 runs. While Kuldeep Yadav bagged four wickets in that innings (4/22), the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed his 35th Test five-wicket haul and ended with bowling figures of 15.5-0-51-5.
Most Test wickets in India: Ravichandran Ashwin broke Anil Kumble’s record
With his first wicket of that innings by dismissing the opener Ben Duckett, Ashwin became the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to record 350 Test wickets in India. It was also the level of most Test wickets in India, as Kumble was leading with exactly 350 Test wickets at home.
In the very next ball, Ashwin dismissed Ollie Pope for a golden duck and became the leading Test wicket-taker in India by breaking Kumble’s record.
Later, Ashwin also dismissed Joe Root, Ben Foakes and James Anderson to end that innings with 354 Test wickets in India.
Most Test wickets in India
Player | Wickets |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 354 |
Anil Kumble | 350 |
Harbhajan Singh | 265 |
Kapil Dev | 219 |
Ravindra Jadeja | 211 |
(Updated as of 25 February 2024)
Most Test wickets at home
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin became the fifth bowler to complete 350 Test wickets at home. With 354 Test wickets in India, Ashwin is now standing in the fourth place in the list of most Test wickets at home.
While the legendary Sri Lankan off-spinner Muthiah Muralidaran is leading the table with 493 Test wickets at home, the next two are English pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad with 434 and 398 Test wickets, respectively.
Most Test wickets by home bowlers
Player | Wickets |
Muthiah Muralidaran (Sri Lanka) | 493 |
James Anderson (England) | 434 |
Stuart Broad (England) | 398 |
Ravichandran Ashwin (India) | 354 |
Anil Kumble (India) | 350 |
Shane Warne (Australia) | 319 |
(Updated as of 25 February 2024)
