The second Test between India and New Zealand commenced on October 24 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune. After winning the toss, New Zealand elected to bat first. India made three changes to their lineup and the match started with high expectations as India aim to dominate New Zealand on home soil.
Ravichandran Ashwin gives India a solid start
Ravichandran Ashwin provided India with a fantastic start by claiming two key wickets during the first session. The veteran off-spinner continued his dominance over New Zealand skipper Tom Latham, dismissing him for the ninth time in his Test career. Later, Ashwin struck again by removing Will Young just before lunch. The second dismissal was a result of India’s sharp fielding efforts, with Sarfaraz Khan‘s alertness at short leg prompting captain Rohit Sharma to take a successful review after a faint edge was detected by the snickometer.
Ashwin goes past Nathan Lyon to accomplish special feat in the WTC
Amidst his excellent bowling display, Ashwin also achieved a significant personal milestone. He surpassed Australia’s Nathan Lyon to become the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship (WTC) era. Ashwin’s two wickets took his tally to 189 wickets in 39 matches at an impressive average of 20.71 since the WTC was introduced in 2019. He then also bagged another scalp to take his tally to 189. Lyon, with 187 wickets in 47 matches, was displaced to second position. This achievement highlights Ashwin’s consistency and match-winning ability, especially on home pitches where he has excelled throughout his career.
Also WATCH: Sarfaraz Khan convinces skipper Rohit Sharma to take a successful review on Day 1 of 2nd Test
Most wickets in World Test Championship
| Player | Matches | Wickets | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ravichandran Ashwin (IND) | 39* | 189 | 11 |
| Nathan Lyon (AUS) | 47 | 187 | 10 |
| Pat Cummins (AUS) | 42 | 175 | 8 |
| Mitchell Starc (AUS) | 38 | 147 | 3 |
| Stuart Broad (ENG) | 33 | 134 | 3 |
The intense rivalry between Ashwin and Lyon
Ashwin’s performance not only crowned him as the top wicket-taker in the WTC but also brought him surpass Lyon in the overall list of leading wicket-takers in Test cricket. While Lyon has 530 wickets, Ashwin now has 531. Despite their on-field rivalry, Ashwin and Lyon have often expressed mutual respect, appreciating each other’s accomplishments in the longest format of the game.