The Indian Cricket Team began the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle on a thumping note with an innings and 141 runs victory over West Indies. Ravichandran Ashwin was at his prime best with 7 wickets in the 2nd innings of the 1st Test match against West Indies played at Windsor Park, Dominica on 14 July 2023.
He just wreaked havoc during the 2nd innings on the 3rd day of the first Test match. Ashwin got an initial breakthrough dismissing West Indies captain Kraigg Braithwaite with a simple catch to Rahane at slips. After the tea break, Ashwin dismissed Blackwood, debutant Athanze.
He then cleaned up the West Indies batting line up getting wickets of Alazzari Jospeh, Cornwall, Kemar Roach, and Warrican to finish with figures of 7 for 71 in 21.3 overs. The pitch had a lot of turn which created a lot of panic among the West Indies batting lineup.
He was bought early by Rohit Sharma early on the opening day. Ashwin got an early breakthrough dismissing Tangerine Chanderpaul. He then dismissed West Indies captain Kraigg Braithwaite to put the brakes on opponents. Ashwin looked impressive getting rid of debutant Alick Athanze.
He then picked the wickets of Joseph and finished off to dismiss Worrican with a good catch by Gill at short leg to bowl out West Indies for a paltry total. The veteran off-spinner made a mockery with figures of 5 for 60 in 24.3 overs.
The main off-spinner was not picked for the ICC World Test Championship finals against Australia played at Kennington Oval, London.
Ravichandran Ashwin was in a sublime form
Ravichandran Ashwin levelled the record of Anil Kumble with an 8th 10 wicket haul by an Indian in Test matches. He achieved many more achievements during the first Test match against West Indies.
Ashwin closed in with Harbhajan Singh with the most wickets in international cricket. As of now, the veteran off-spinner has picked 709 wickets across formats making him the 16th player to grab more than 700 international wickets.
Harbhajan Singh grabbed a total of 711 wickets while R Ashwin would likely surpass Singh in the 2nd Test match against West Indies at Port of Spain, Trinidad. Ravichandran Ashwin played a total of 93 Test matches so far (176 innings) and grabbed a total of 486 wickets with 34 five-wicket hauls and 8 10-wicket hauls in a match.
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