Ravichandran Ashwin is already a massively successful bowler in test match cricket in Indian conditions and now he is close to breaking another record at home.
Ashwin has so far grabbed 249 wickets playing in India and with one more wicket in the upcoming series against Bangladesh, he will join the elite list of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble who are the only two bowlers to have 250 wickets to his name at home.
However, the extraordinary fact is that Ashwin’s record in comparison to that of Harbhajan and Kumble is much better.
Harbhajan has played 55 test matches in India in which he has dismissed 265 batsmen, while Kumble in 63 test matches at home dismissed 350 batsmen. These are outstanding numbers, but when we compare that to the numbers of Ashwin, they look slightly inferior.
Ashwin has got to 249 wickets in just 41 test matches in India. He is averaging a little over 22 with the ball at home. As far as the bowling averages of Harbhajan and Kumble are concerned, they average almost 29 and 25 at home respectively which is decently higher than the bowling average of Ashwin.
Ashwin’s performance outside India has, however, not been up to the mark. Although, he has put up some good performances here and there in foreign countries, his overall numbers overseas aren’t quite impressive.
The 33-year old is averaging more than 30 in the games that he has played outside India. If we remove the matches that he has played in Sri Lanka where the conditions are quite similar to India, Ashwin’s bowling average goes even higher.
Ashwin’s success at home though is second to none. India have dished out some rank turners to the opposing teams in the last few years which have helped Ashwin add wickets to his tally, but his stats are not just down to the spin assisting pitches. The Tamil Nadu veteran has showed tremendous skills as well.
