
Pink-ball Test: R Ashwin goes past Dale Steyn to move into top 8 of all-time Test wicket-takers list
India Today
India vs Sri Lanka: R Ashwin surpassed Dale Steyn's tally of 439 wickets when he dismissed Dhananjhjaya de Silva on Day 3 of the pink-ball Test in Bengaluru.
Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday entered the top 8 of all-time leading wicket-takers list in Test cricket as he picked up his 440th wicket on Day 3 of the pink-ball Test against Sri Lanka. Ashwin went past legendary South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn's tally of 439 wickets when he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva in the first session as Sri Lanka were staring at a massive defeat.
Ashwin now has the most wickets for bowlers in the 400-club and is 79 wickets away from legendary West Indies pacer Courtney Walsh who finished with 519 wickets.
Pink-ball Test, IND vs SL: Day 3 Live Updates
Ashwin picked up 2 wickets in the first innings of the pink-ball Test and followed it up with 2 more in the 2nd innings before Tea on Day 3. The off-spinner was spinning a web around the Sri Lanka batters, varying his lengths and pace after a poor spell in the first hour of the day.
. . !Excellent work from @Hanumavihari at the forward short-leg!2nd wicket for @ashwinravi99 as Dhananjaya de Silva departs! #TeamIndia | #INDvSL | @PaytmFollow the match https://t.co/t74OLq7xoO pic.twitter.com/ygbBDKaUCD
Ashwin got the first breakthrough of the day for India on Monday as he picked up the big wicket of Kusal Mendis who was looking to release the pressure on Sri Lankans with a quickfire fifty. Ashwin got one to slide through and have Mendis stumped.
Notably, only in the first Test in Mohali, R Ashwin went past legendary India all-rounder Kapil Dev's tally of 434 wickets. Ashwin is now the 2nd highest wicket-taker in the history of Indian cricket only behind Anil Kumble who took 619 wickets in a decorated career.