India vs Australia 1st Test: Ravichandran Ashwin crosses 450-wicket mark, 2nd behind Anil Kumble

Ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (3/42) reached a landmark by crossing 450 Test wickets on Day one of the first Test against Australia in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur on Thursday.

Alex Carey was Ashwin’s 450th Test victim.The veteran off-spinner bowled wicket-keeper batsman Carry (36, 33b, 7x4) to give the hosts an important breakthrough. Carry was playing aggressively with the successful execution of some reverse sweeps to unsettle the Indian bowlers.

Ashwin is currently second among India’s highest wicket-takers in the longest format of the game. He is behind former skipper Anil Kumble who has picked 619 wickets in Tests. Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev is in the third place on the list with 434 scalps.

Ashwin approached the first Test against Australia in Nagpur with 449 Test wickets in his kitty. Though he didn’t get any wickets in the first session, he gave the hosts the much-needed breakthrough by breaking the important 53-run partnership between Carey and Peter Handscomb (31, 84b, 4x4). He also dismissed Australian captain Pat Cummins (6, 14b, 1x4) and Scott Boland (1, 8b).

Both BCCI and ICC congratulated Ashwin for his feat.

“Congratulations to@ashwinravi99 as he becomes only the second #TeamIndia cricketer after Anil Kumble to scalp 450 or more Test wickets,” tweeted BCCI.

“Alex Carey becomes R Ashwin’s 450th Test victim,” tweeted ICC. 

Riding on Ravindra Jadaja (5/47) and Ashwin’s (3/42) splendid bowling performances, India bowled out Australia for a paltry 177 runs in the first innings.