R. Ashwin: Turning It On

The rise of Ravichandran Ashwin, the fastest Indian to take 200 Test wickets, is as remarkable as his bowling.

- Vikrant Gupta

Of the many congratulatory messages sent to Ravichandran Ashwin after he took his 200th Test wicket, on September 25 against New Zealand in Kanpur, was this tweet by former Test captain and one of India’s greatest spin bowlers Bishan Singh Bedi: “Two hundred Test wkts in 37 is awesome @ashwinravi99—Weldone Son..keep up the good work..@ this rate U cn get to 300 end of season! Go fr it!” It may have been written in SMSese, but Bedi, known to be stingy with his compliments, particularly to fellow spinners, was not being facetious. With 12 more Tests to be played at home this season, and with pitches expected to be doctored to suit India, Ashwin could well reach that figure at the rate he’s going. Though the rained-off Port of Spain Test came in the way of Ashwin getting to that milestone in 36 Tests— which would have equalled Australian leg-break bowler Clarrie Grimmett’s 80-year-old record—the 300-wicket record had Ashwin written all over it.