Team India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin achieved the 100 Test matches landmark in the fifth Test against England on Thursday, March 7 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. He joined an elite list of Indian cricketers who have played 100 or more test matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin was presented with a memento to mark the occasion by Indian head coach Rahul Dravid before the start of the Test match. The spinner’s family was present to celebrate the special moment with him. Ashwin became the 14th cricketer from India to play 100 Test matches. The list boasts of legendary Indian cricketers, Sachin Tendulkar (200), Rahul Dravid (163), VVS Laxman (134), Anil Kumble (132), Kapil Dev (131), Sunil Gavaskar (125), Dilip Vengsarkar (116), Sourav Ganguly (113), Virat Kohli (113), Ishant Sharma (105), Harbhajan Singh (103) and Cheteshwar Pujara (103).
💯 reasons to celebrate the moment!#TeamIndia Head Coach Rahul Dravid presents a special memento to @ashwinravi99 on the occasion of his 100th Test match 👏👏
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/OwZ4YNua1o#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/vxvw5jQ1z1
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 7, 2024
Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 and since then has been an integral member of the Indian team, especially at home. In 99 matches, he has picked up 507 wickets at an average of 23.91, while claiming 35 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls. Recently, he went past Anil Kumble to become India’s leading wicket-taker in home Tests. Also, going past the 500-wicket mark in Test cricket, he joined the likes of Muthiah Muralitharan, Shane Warne, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Kumble, Glenn McGrath, Courtney Walsh and Nathan Lyon and became just the ninth bowler to do so.
Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on playing 100 Tests
Ravichandran Ashwin paid tribute to his father Ravichandran, for believing in him and supporting his journey. He expressed that it’s an emotional moment for him and also his family. Ashwin also championed the cause of Test cricket ahead of his landmark Test. He said,
“It’s quite an emotional moment. Not just not just for me. I’m not one who would be shaken by emotions a lot. But today is a hugely emotional moment for a man who is sitting back in Chennai. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it here.”
Ashwin also said, “IPL has been a hugely popular tournament; a lot of kids want to play T20 and get into the IPL. I really do wish that they get there. But remember one thing, this format (Test)… it is in a lot of things that life wouldn’t teach you. I think Test cricket is what life is. It is the closest synergy that you can find to life. It will teach you to adapt, dealing with pressures.”
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