Senior Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin got to 400 Test wickets on day 2 of the Pink-Ball Test against England. He thus becomes the second-fastest bowler to get to that landmark in his 77th Test match. Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan got to the feat in just 72 Test matches. India bowled out England for just 81 inside the second session on the second day. They need 48 runs to win the Test match and have ample time left to do that.

Meanwhile, Jofra Archer was Ashwin’s 400th Test wicket as he found the England pacer plumb in front of the wicket with a full delivery. He also dismissed Ben Stokes for the eleventh time in his career. For the record, Ravichandran Ashwin is the fastest Indian bowler to take 400 wickets in Test cricket.

The veteran spinner is also the fourth Indian bowler to take 400 wickets in the whites for the Asian giants. Before Ashwin’s landmark achievement, former skippers Anil Kumble (619), Kapil Dev (434), and spin wizard Harbhajan Singh (417) have entered the 400-club in Test cricket.

A win in this Test match will take India a step closer to a place in the World Test Championship finals. on the other hand, England’s loss will mean that they are almost out of contention. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh amongst others congratulated Ashwin on his special landmark.

Ravichandran Ashwin now has 600 plus international wickets putting him only behind the likes of Anil Kumble (953), spinner Harbhajan Singh (707), and Kapil Dev (687) in the list of most international wicket-takers for India

 (With inputs from agencies)