IND vs ENG: Ashwin surpasses Anil Kumble, equals Richard Hadlee with 36th fifer in Dharamsala Test

Ravichandran Ashwin. (Photo Source – Twitter/X)

Veteran Indian spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin is a man of many talents. From deceiving his opponents with the ball to being a dependable player with the bat, the all-rounder has been one of the most integral parts of the Indian contingent for many years now.

Competing in his 100th Test, Ashwin and India took on Ben Stokes-led England in the fifth and final Test of the ongoing series at the picturesque venue — Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium in Dharamshala.

Being his 100th Test, the Chennai-born made sure that it was a memorable outing for him, as he became the first Indian cricketer to take 36 five-wicket hauls for the side in the longest format. Leading the charts at 36, Ashwin is followed by former Indian spinner Anil Kumble, who has 35 five-wicket hauls, with Harbhajan Singh occupying third place with 25.

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Furthermore, it is worth noting that the veteran all-rounder now occupies third place in the overall list of players with the most fifers in Test cricket. The first place in the list is occupied by Muttiah Muralitharan, who has taken 67 fifers in Tests, with Shane Warne sitting in second place with 37 fifers, followed by Ashwin who has 36. Notably, former all-rounder Richard Hadlee also has 36 five-wicket hauls and shares the position with Ash.

India on the cusp of victory in fifth Test

Speaking of the ongoing clash between India and England, the hosts have put in dominant performances across the series, and they continue to show it at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamshala.

Conceding 218 runs against England after a 79-run knock by Zak Crawley, the remaining English batters could not amount to much. As for India, Kuldeep Yadav took five wickets, Ashwin struck four times, and Ravindra Jadeja took one.

Coming out to bat, the Indian team put forth a magnificent performance with the bat. Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings with a score of 57 runs. Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill completed their centuries, scoring 103 and 110 runs, respectively. Devdutt Padikkal added 65 runs to the tally, with Sarfaraz Khan scoring 56, as the hosts posted a total of 477 runs in the first innings, and made sure to perform with the ball in the second innings as well.

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