As Ravichandran Ashwin achieved an incredible milestone on Sunday once he got the better of Ben Stokes with an absolute beauty of an off-spinner that clipped his timbre, he surpassed Harbhajan Singh in the number of wickets at home. Harbhajan Singh who also penned an incredible history after registering India’s first Test hat-trick at Eden Gardens against the irrepressible Australians was in second place with 265 scalps.
We are all aware of the fact that Harbhajan and Kumble have been the spinning icons to countless Indian spinners aspiring to don on the national jersey and Ravichandran Ashwin was no exception. With all due deference to India’s legendary off-spinner, Harbhajan, Ashwin also sought apologies because of the fact that he managed to get a nod ahead of his icon.
In the virtual post-conference held on the second day at the end of the day’s play, he quoted, “When I was watching the 2001 series where Bhajju Pa (Harbhajan) was playing, I didn’t even imagine that I would go out and become an off-spinner for the country.”
He continued, “I was still a batsman for my state, trying to accelerate a career towards batting and playing for the country, I wasn’t sure whether I would go on and become a player for the Indian team.”
BCCI tweeted Ashwin’s video by citing, “A touch of class from Ash! He may have surpassed @harbhajan_singh to become the second-highest wicket-taker in India in Tests but @ashwinravi99 has nothing but respect for the ‘Turbanator’. @Paytm #TeamIndia #INDvENG
A touch of class from Ash! ??
He may have surpassed @harbhajan_singh to become the second-highest wickettaker in India in Tests but @ashwinravi99 has nothing but respect for the ‘Turbanator’. ?? @Paytm #TeamIndia #INDvENG
Here’s what Ashwin said ?? pic.twitter.com/HIRSq07jCD
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 14, 2021
The 34-year-old Ashwin who had achieved this incredible feat was oblivious of the same unless he came down the pike for the media interaction. In fact, he shared a memory from his childhood where he said that he was mocked by several friends because of his attempted efforts at emulating Harbhajan’s bowling style.
He said, “Lot of my teammates from that age, from that generation, you know, used to make fun of me, because I used to bowl like Bhajju Pa, my action, I used to try and bowl like him and all that.”
He continued, “So, from there on to come one and actually break the record of something that he possesses, has to be incredibly special. I didn’t know of it, now that I do know of it, I feel happy. .. Sorry, Bhajju Pa….”
His scintillating bowling figures left England crumbling like a house of cards on the second day of the contest. He managed t chronicle numbers of 5 for 43 that confined England to a meager 134 in the first innings.
Ashwin’s bowling average at home has been nothing short of stellar as he has managed to bowl at 22.67. He has managed to scalp fivers 29 times while he registered 10 wickets in a match a whopping 7 times. He is currently in the second spot in the home after Anil Kumble who managed to pick up 350 wickets at home.
In the all-time wicket-taking list of Indian bowlers in Test cricket, Ashwin in the fourth spot behind Harbhajan Singh, Kapil Dev and Anil Kumble as they rank third, second and first respectively in the list.
