Relive Ravichandran Ashwin’s top 3 iconic Test cricket moments. Ravichandran Ashwin recently announced his retirement from international cricket. The Indian veteran played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is. He retired after the third Test between Australia and India at the Gabba in the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25. He ended his career as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests and across formats (765). The 38-year-old finished his career having held a lot of records to his name.
Test cricket was undoubtedly the format where he achieved the most. He dominated the format for over 14 years as arguably the best spinner of the format of his time. Additionally, he was more than useful as a batter and often won matches for his side with the bat. India mourned and celebrated his retirement at the same time. There are more highs than lows in the career of the 38-year-old.
Here’s a look at the top three most memorable moments of Ravichandran Ashwin in Tests –
3. Helping India to draw the Sydney Test 2021 with Hanuma Vihari
It was the Border Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21 match between India and Australia in Sydney. The series was level 1-1 and the match went into the fifth day as India needed to chase a mammoth total of 407 runs. The way Rishabh Pant was going at one point, the win seemed possible. But his dismissal meant India resorted to drawing the match.
But even achieving a draw was a huge task. Ravindra Jadeja had a thumb injury. Hanuma Vihari and Ashwin themselves sustained injuries in the middle. The duo was the last recognized batting pair and had the challenge to bat nearly 40 overs. With great determination and grit, the duo pulled off a sensational draw which enabled India to win the series at the Gabba.
2. Scoring a hundred and taking a fifer in the same Test four times
Ravi Ashwin was one of the most underrated Test All-rounders. He is the only player to score 3500+ runs and claim 500+ wickets in Tests. He is the Indian with the most instances of having scored a hundred and claimed a fifer in the same Test. The veteran did it on four different instances against teams like West Indies, England, and Bangladesh.
The first such instance happened in 2011 at Wankhede where he scored 103 and claimed 5/156 against the West Indies. The second instance was against the WI in North Sound in 2016 where he registered 113 and claimed 7/83 with the ball. The third instance was against England in Chennai in 2021 where he scored 106 and claimed 5/43. The last and most recent instance was against Bangladesh in Chennai in 2024 where he scored 113 and claimed 6/88.
1. Becoming the 2nd fastest spinner to take 500 Test wickets
Ravi Ashwin became the fastest Indian bowler to claim 500 Test wickets. He reached the milestone on his 98th Test and took 25714 balls to set a new record. While he is the fastest in India Ashwin is the second fastest to reach the milestone in the world both in terms of the number of balls taken and the number of matches played.
In terms of the number of matches, he was only behind the legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. In terms of the number of balls, only Australia’s pace legend Glenn McGrath was faster. It showed how quickly he could take wickets and help his team to win matches. For a spinner to have a better bowling SR than many pacers proves his legendary status in the sport.
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