Ravichandran Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler, aims to join Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh in an elite list by taking three more wickets to complete 700 in international matches for India during the first Test against the West Indies.
India will play the first Test of a two-match series against West Indies at Windsor Park in Roseau (Dominica) starting from July 12. The Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, aims to begin their first overseas assignment of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle positively and defeat the Caribbean team. India, the world’s top Test team, has not lost a Test series in West Indies for the past 20 years and hopes to continue this record in the upcoming matches.
India’s performance in the WTC 2023 final against Australia at the Oval from June 7 to 11 last month was disappointing as both the batters and bowlers failed to deliver. The decision to drop Ravichandran Ashwin, the world’s No. 1 Test bowler, from the playing XI was questioned by many, and it ultimately proved costly as India lost the match by 209 runs. However, Ashwin is expected to make a comeback in the first Test against the West Indies team.
Rohit, the Indian captain, has announced that they will have two spinners and three seamers in their five-man attack. It is evident that Ashwin will join Ravindra Jadeja, who is ranked No.1 in the Test all-rounder’s rankings.
Most Wickets Taker For India Team In International Matches
| Rank | Player Name | Matches | Wickets |
| 1 | Anil Kumble | 401 | 953 |
| 2 | Harbhajan Singh | 365 | 707 |
| 3 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 270 | 697 |
| 4 | Kapil Dev | 356 | 687 |
| 5 | Zaheer Khan | 303 | 597 |
In the upcoming Test against the team led by Kraigg Brathwaite, Ravichandran Ashwin, a 36-year-old cricketer with 474 wickets in 92 Tests, has a chance to join the exclusive list of legendary Indian spin bowlers like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
Ashwin is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test matches. If he takes three wickets in the upcoming series opener, he will become the third Indian to take 700 or more wickets in international matches, following the legendary spin duo. Ashwin has played in 270 matches (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is combined) and has dismissed 697 batters so far.
Kumble is India’s top wicket-taker in Tests and ODIs with 953 wickets in international cricket, followed by Harbhajan with 707 wickets in 365 matches.
