October 24, 2024: Indian spin veteran Ravichandran Ashwin has made history by surpassing Australian legend Nathan Lyon to become the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC). This milestone was achieved during the second Test against New Zealand at Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium.
In the first innings of the match, Ashwin claimed three wickets for 48 runs in 19 overs, maintaining an impressive economy rate of 2.50.
As of this match, Ashwin has taken 189 wickets in 39 matches since the WTC was introduced in 2019, with a remarkable average of 20.71 and best bowling figures of 7/71.
His performance has included nine four-wicket hauls and 11 five-wicket hauls across the tournament’s cycles.
Ashwin previously led the wicket tally in both the 2019-21 and 2021-23 WTC cycles, showcasing consistent excellence with 71 and 61 wickets, respectively.
Lyon, who held the previous record, has taken 187 wickets in 43 matches at an average of 26.70. His best figures stand at 8/64.
With this achievement, Ashwin has also surpassed Lyon in the all-time Test wicket-takers list, now holding 531 wickets in 104 matches, making him the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history. His career average is 23.75, with 25 four-wicket hauls and 37 five-wicket hauls.
The competition between Ashwin and Lyon is set to continue in the highly-anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting November 22 in Australia, likely marking their last showdown on Australian soil.
In the ongoing Test, New Zealand, led by captain Tom Latham, opted to bat first after winning the toss. They reached 201/5 at the end of the second session, with notable contributions from Devon Conway (76) and Rachin Ravindra (65).
For India, the match is critical as they aim to equalize the series after losing the first Test, with the team led by Rohit Sharma featuring a strong lineup, including Ashwin and Washington Sundar.
This historic achievement underscores Ashwin’s significant role in India’s cricketing landscape and his status as one of the leading spinners in the world.