Ashwin becomes India’s fifth most successful bowler in Tests

NEW DELHI: India’s bowling spearhead R Ashwin picked up 6/41 in Australia's second innings to move to fifth on the country’s all-time Test bowling list, surpassing

Bishan Singh Bedi

’s tally of 266.

With the wicket of Matthew Wade off the ball before the tea break on Tuesday he moved to 266, joint with former India captain Bedi, and then went past him when he bowled Mitchell Starc soon after resumption of play. He would then go on to scalp two more wickets, extending his Test tally to 269.

Ashwin, 30, entered the ongoing second Test against Australia in Bangalore on 261 wickets after an outstanding 2016, in which he ticked off several personal landmarks, and 13 wickets in 2017 (six during the one-off Test against Bangladesh and seven in the Pune Test against Australia). Having taken two in Australia’s first innings, Ashwin hurried to the landmark during the fourth day’s play at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Next on the list is Ashwin’s former team-mate Zaheer Khan (311), followed by fellow offspinner Harbhajan Singh (417), Kapil Dev 434 and current head coach Anil Kumble (619).

This is Ashwin’s 47th Test match. His overall wickets tally at home now moves to 202 wickets.