“One-in-a-million bowler”: Reactions to R Ashwin taking his 500th Test wicket – CricBlog

Cricket News: Fans, pundits, former players, and legends react to R Ashwin taking his 500th Test wicket for India

Ravichandran Ashwin has joined elite company, becoming the ninth bowler – and second Indian after Anil Kumble – to take 500 Test wickets. The offspinner brought up the milestone by dismissing Zak Crawley on the sweep on the second afternoon of the third Test against England at Rajkot, sparking widespread reactions of congratulations online.

Ashwin has been a standout performer spanning over a decade, underpinning India’s dominance at home in particular. He is the fastest Indian to all the major milestone up to the 500th scalp, reaching his 50th, 100th, 150th, 200th, 250th, 300th, 350th, 400th, 450th, and 500th quicker than anyone else.

Ashwin’s thinking and understanding of the game has captured millions worldwide. Not only does he possess the most beautiful of conventional offspin deliveries, skillful carrom and devastating arm balls, but he has the mind to go with it. An example was how he dismissed Marnus Labuschagne caught behind from around the wicket with a slight change in the seam, getting the ball to go across the right-hander after turning the previous delivery into the stumps.

With the offspinner still bowling nicely, who knows how many wickets he will end up with. For now, fans and Ashwin himself can revel in this terrific achievement.

IND vs ENG 2024: Reactions to R Ashwin taking his 500th Test wicket

“500 Test wickets for a one-in-a-million bowler!” tweeted legend Sachin Tendulkar. “In AshWIN the SpinNER, there was always a WINNER. 500 wickets is a huge milestone in Test cricket. Congratulations, Champion!”

“A champion bowler who never stops to learn. Congratulations @ashwinravi99 on this monumental achievement! Wonderful to see another Indian spinner joining the club.” tweeted Anil Kumble, who is currently India’s leading wicket-taker with 619.

Here are some of the reactions from fans, pundits and other former players to Ashwin’s superb achievement.

500 Test wickets for a one-in-a-million bowler!

In AshWIN the SpinNER, there was always a WINNER. 500 wickets is a huge milestone in Test cricket. Congratulations, Champion!#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/Cb48ZJE3XO

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) February 16, 2024

A champion bowler who never stops to learn. Congratulations @ashwinravi99 on this monumental achievement! Wonderful to see another Indian spinner joining the club.#Ashwin #IndvEng

— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) February 16, 2024

Ashwin is the fastest to complete 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 wickets for India in Tests.

– The GOAT 🐐 pic.twitter.com/PstgkezII3

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) February 16, 2024

Fastest Indian bowler to
(by matches)

50 wickets – R Ashwin
100 wickets – R Ashwin
150 wickets – R Ashwin
200 wickets – R Ashwin
250 wickets – R Ashwin
300 wickets – R Ashwin
350 wickets – R Ashwin
400 wickets – R Ashwin
450 wickets – R Ashwin
500 wickets – R Ashwin*#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/qUpgyhNH5V

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) February 16, 2024

He’s a YouTuber, he’s a Content Creator, he’s mostly the second best batter in any innings, he teaches Law at the MCC in his free time, he sits at the auction table. In between all this, Ashwin has managed to collect 500 Test wickets. What a legend.

— Manya (@CSKian716) February 16, 2024

𝐀𝐬𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐜𝐲 😎🔥

Ashwin becomes the second Indian to reach 500 wickets in men’s Tests 👏 pic.twitter.com/KYHwfNhdh9

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) February 16, 2024

Such a shame that R Ashwin didn’t reach 500 Test wickets with an exact split of right- and left-handers. The tally is currently 251 to 249

— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) February 16, 2024

And there you go… guess who strikes first? No.500!! A tribute to Ashwin’s perseverance, his smarts and courageous openmindedness to break the traditional norms. A towering figure. Absolute legend!!!

— KASHISH (@crickashish217) February 16, 2024

When Wasim Akram reached his 300th wicket at the Oval in 1996, the celebrations were wild & one could sense the enormity of the occasion.

R Ashwin getting to 500 wickets in Test cricket at Rajkot is a phenomenal achievement, in every conceivable sense.#INDvENG

— Vijay A (@VAAChandran) February 16, 2024

No one, no one, has made debut at the age that Ashwin did (25) and has taken as many wickets as he has. Among spinners, only Graeme Swann (29) made debut at an older age than Ashwin and went past 250 Test wickets. Take a bow, man!

— Sa. Gomesh | ச. கோமேஷ் (@SaGomesh) February 16, 2024

Ravichandran Ashwin has the best strike rate among the 9 players who have claimed 500 or more wickets in Test cricket.

51.4 – R Ashwin
51.9 – Glenn McGrath
55.0 – Muttiah Muralitharan
55.7 – Stuart Broad
56.8 – James Anderson#INDvENG

— Prasenjit Dey (@CricPrasen) February 16, 2024

Number 500 for Ravichandran Ashwin in Test cricket 🐐

Second fastest in terms of matches played after Muralidaran’s 87 Tests.

— Mayank (@ImMayankB) February 16, 2024

500!

Ashwin finds a way to get the man who has been scoring a lot of runs, Crawley goes and Ashwin has 500.

Many of them questioned, and it tells a lot about him that even now he has to be backed to bowl after giving away 70+ in 11 overs.

Bowled Ash. Hopefully more to come!

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) February 16, 2024