Chennai: On Thursday (February 25) India’s Ravichandran Ashwin became only the fourth Indian and sixth spinner in the world to take 400 Test wickets, a feat which was nothing short of a ‘fairytale’ for the right-arm off-spinner.
He also has been hailed as a modern-day Test legend by his captain Virat Kohli after their big 10-wicket win against England in the thirst Test of the five-match Test series in Ahmedabad.
“It feels amazing actually (to reach 400 Test wickets). The entire stadium stood up and clapped for me. Pleased it happened in the winning cause. I can’t really get a grip of what has happened in the last 2-3 months. It has been a dreamy run and a fairytale,” Ashwin said after the match.
Ashwin credited his self-belief for reaching where he has, “It has been all about self-belief. At the start of the Australian tour, I didn’t think I would be starting, but then (Ravindra) Jadeja broke down and it might have had to happen,” he concluded.
Skipper Kohli was effusive in his praise, saying, “I think we need to stand up and take notice of what Ashwin has done. In Tests, he is a modern-day legend. As a captain, I am so pleased he is in my team.”
The 34-year-old reached the landmark in the day-night third Test against England after he dismissed Jofra Archer in England’s second innings. He finished the match in style with seven scalps, which took his overall score to 401.
The off-spinner, playing in his 77th Test, is the 16th bowler in the world to have taken 400 Test wickets. Ashwin also became the second-fastest to reach the milestone after Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan, who made it in his 72nd Test.
