Ravichandran Ashwin has surpassed Harbhajan Singh to become India’s third-highest wicket-taker of all time in test match cricket. Ashwin was levelled with Harbhajan at the end of the fourth day of the Kanpur test match against New Zealand and as he dismissed Tom Latham today, he got past Harbhajan’s tally of 417 wickets.
Now, only Kapil Dev and the former Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble are ahead of Ashwin in terms of taking more test wickets for India. While Kapil is not too far away from Ashwin as he has got 434 wickets to his name, Kumble still seems a countrymile away with 619 test wickets.
Wishes have poured in for Ashwin as he has surpassed one of India’s greats, whom he replaced in the Indian test team around 2011-12. Although Harbhajan is not retired yet, and he can still add to his tally of test wickets, it is highly unlikely that he will play another test match for India now.
The most remarkable aspect of Ashwin’s record is that he has played only 80 test matches as compared to Harbhajan who got his 417 test wickets in 103 test matches. However, it can be justified with the fact that India has produced many more rank turners in the recent past than they produced between 2000 and 2010, an era in which Harbhajan played most of his cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh have different styles
Harbhajan and Ashwin have been two very different kinds of off-spinners in terms of their styles as well. While Ravichandran Ashwin is more about his guile and variations, Harbhajan was a very conventional off-spinner relying mostly on his stock delivery.
One of the criticisms that was associated with Harbhajan towards the end of his career was that he had become more of a limited-over bowler than a test bowler as his test performances dropped off. That’s something that hasn’t been the case with Ashwin so far, as he has maintained his test performances at the same level.
Here is how Twitter reacted after Ravichandran Ashwin left Harbhajan Singh behind today –
To go past the great @harbhajan_singh is a mighty achievement for @ashwinravi99. We've been blessed to see two great off-spinners over the last twenty years
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 29, 2021
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The numbers of Ravichandran Ashwin is incredible in Test cricket. pic.twitter.com/GzHjacnWzf
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) November 29, 2021
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Ravi Ashwin surpasses Harbhajan Singh and becomes India's 3rd highest wicket taker in Test cricket. What a bowler, an absolute legend.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 29, 2021
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As R Ashwin goes past Harbhajan Singh’s wickets tally, I’m reminded of a nets session in Trinidad back in June 2011 which Ashwin spent picking Harbhajan’s brains. This was back when Ashwin was yet to play Tests while Harbhajan was closing in on 400 Test wickets #INDvNZ
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) November 29, 2021
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Congratulations @ashwinravi99 for getting past the legend @harbhajan_singh . Now, Ash should target @anilkumble1074 record! #INDvsNZ
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) November 29, 2021
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Reaction of @harbhajan_singh to @PTI_News "Congratulations to @ashwinravi99 on his milestone. Wish he wins many more matches for the country."
"Never believed in comparisons. I did my best for the country during my time and Ashwin has done his best during his."#IndianCricketTeam— Kushan Sarkar (@kushansarkar) November 29, 2021
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Fortunate to live in an era of two modern day great off spinners and see them in action over the years.
It’s rather apt that a world class bowler Ashwin goes past the legend Harbhajan Singh 🙌#Ashwin #Harbhajan pic.twitter.com/uIj44lc5gF
Advertisement— Simran Kaur (@kaursimran_ind) November 29, 2021
Ashwin goes past Harbhajan Singh in terms of number of Test wickets. Tremendous effort, often undervalued as a bowler. Excellent work @ashwinravi99 👏
Advertisement— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) November 29, 2021
Ravi Ashwin surpasses Harbhajan Singh and becomes India's 3rd highest wicket taker in Test cricket. What a bowler, an absolute legend.#Cricket @ashwinravi99 @BCCI #Legend pic.twitter.com/XeY23OQMRm
Advertisement— A B H I J I T || @Imro45🇮🇳 (@imabhijit98_) November 29, 2021
Ashwin has gone past Harbhajan in India in Highest Wickets in tests
Advertisement— Cricket fan Girl (@AfshaCricket) November 29, 2021
ashwin may have overtaken harbhajan in wickets, but you never know when it may turn around the other way. remember, bhajji is not an ex-cricketer
Advertisement— anshita (@zouissstan) November 29, 2021
Balls taken by Harbhajan Singh to reach 417 test wickets: 28,571
AdvertisementBalls taken by Ravi Ashwin to reach 418 test wickets: 22,029
Ashwin has reached 418 wickets inspite of bowling 6,542 balls lesser than Harbhajan.
— Ayush Bharadi (@AyushB45) November 29, 2021
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