Ravichandran Ashwin surpasses Harbhajan Singh to become India's third highest wicket taker in Tests

Ravichandran Ashwin became India's third highest wicket taker of all time in test cricket on Monday, surpassing veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh in the elite list. He achieved this feat on day five of the ongoing first test between India and New Zealand at Green Park Stadium in Kanpur. He fired Kiwi Vice-Captain Tom Latham to meet the milestone. Before the first test, it took Ashwin five wickets to pipeline Harbhajan Singh's record of 417 wickets in the longest format in the game.

In the first innings, Ashwin had taken three wickets to bring his total wickets to 416. In the second innings, he sacked kiwi opener Will Young just before stumps on day four before toggling Latham in the second session of the final day.

Only Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev have conquered more wickets for India among the whites than Ashwin (418). Kumble, the legendary leg spinner, had registered 619 scalps in 132 tests, while former Indian skipper Kapil Dev had scalped 434 wickets in 131 appearances.

After declaring their second innings on 234/7, India handed New Zealand a stiff goal of 284 runs in the first Test.

Read Here | Shaheen overtakes Ashwin to become the leading wicket taker in 2021

The kiwis were 79/1 at lunch on the fifth day before Umesh Yadav India made the much-needed breakthrough at the first ball of the second session.

Ashwin then prevailed against Latham and dropped the guests three. With just over two hours of play left, it will be interesting to see if the Indian bowlers can work their magic.

India had initially scored 345 points in the first innings before Axar Patel was thrown with five for the Kiwis for 296 and 49 runs behind India.