New Delhi: Ravichandran Ashwin, the ace off spinner, has become the 14th Indian to play 100 test matches for his country. He achieved this remarkable feat by appearing in the fourth and final test match against England at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on March 7, 2024. The match is part of the ICC World Test Championship and will decide the winner of the Anthony de Mello Trophy.
Ashwin, who made his test debut in 2011 against West Indies, has been one of the most consistent and prolific performers for India in the longest format of the game. He has taken 409 wickets at an average of 24.69 and scored 2,859 runs at an average of 27.39. He has also registered 29 five-wicket hauls and 7 ten-wicket hauls in his illustrious career. He is the fastest bowler to reach 300, 350 and 400 test wickets and the fourth Indian to take 400 test wickets.
Ashwin is also the third Indian to score a century and take a five-wicket haul in the same test match, which he has done three times. He is the only bowler in the history of test cricket to have taken 50 wickets against all the other seven major test-playing nations. He is also the leading wicket-taker in the ICC World Test Championship with 71 wickets in 13 matches.
Ashwin joins a select group of Indian cricketers who have played 100 test matches or more for their country. Here is the list of the other 13 players who have achieved this milestone:
- Sunil Gavaskar: The legendary opener was the first Indian to play 100 test matches. He reached this landmark in 1984 against Pakistan in Lahore, where he scored 96 runs in his final innings. He was also the first cricketer in the world to score 10,000 runs in test cricket. He played a total of 125 test matches and scored 10,122 runs at an average of 51.12 with 34 centuries and 45 half-centuries.
- Dilip Vengsarkar: The stylish middle-order batsman was the second Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 1988 against New Zealand at his home ground Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, where he scored 13 runs. He played a total of 116 test matches and scored 6,868 runs at an average of 42.13 with 17 centuries and 35 half-centuries.
- Kapil Dev: The legendary all-rounder was the third Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 1989 against Pakistan in Karachi, where he took 4 wickets and scored 35 runs. He was also the captain of the Indian team that won the 1983 World Cup. He played a total of 131 test matches and scored 5,248 runs at an average of 31.05 with 8 centuries and 27 half-centuries. He also took 434 wickets at an average of 29.64 with 23 five-wicket hauls and 2 ten-wicket hauls. He is the second-highest wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in test cricket.
- Sachin Tendulkar: The master blaster was the fourth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2002 against England in London, where he scored 193 runs. He is widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time and holds several world records in test cricket. He played a total of 200 test matches and scored 15,921 runs at an average of 53.78 with 51 centuries and 68 half-centuries. He also took 46 wickets at an average of 54.17. He is the highest run-scorer and the most centurion in test cricket history.
- Anil Kumble: The legendary leg-spinner was the fifth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2005 against Sri Lanka in Ahmedabad, where he took 10 wickets and scored 26 runs. He was also the captain of the Indian team for a brief period. He played a total of 132 test matches and took 619 wickets at an average of 29.65 with 35 five-wicket hauls and 8 ten-wicket hauls. He is the third highest wicket-taker in test cricket history and the only bowler to take all 10 wickets in an innings of a test match.
- Rahul Dravid: The wall was the sixth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2006 against West Indies in St. John’s, where he scored 81 runs. He was also the captain of the Indian team for a few years. He played a total of 164 test matches and scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31 with 36 centuries and 63 half-centuries. He also took 210 catches and effected 14 stumpings as a wicket-keeper. He is the second highest run-scorer and the most catcher among non-wicket-keepers in test cricket history.
- Sourav Ganguly: The prince of Kolkata was the seventh Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2007 against Sri Lanka in Colombo, where he scored 67 runs. He was also the captain of the Indian team that transformed the fortunes of Indian cricket in the early 2000s. He played a total of 113 test matches and scored 7,212 runs at an average of 42.17 with 16 centuries and 35 half-centuries. He also took 32 wickets at an average of 52.53.
- VVS Laxman: The very very special batsman was the eighth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2008 against Australia in Nagpur, where he scored 64 runs. He was known for his elegant stroke-play and his ability to play match-winning innings against tough opponents. He played a total of 134 test matches and scored 8,781 runs at an average of 45.97 with 17 centuries and 56 half-centuries. He also took 12 catches.
- Virender Sehwag: The nawab of Najafgarh was the ninth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2012 against England in Mumbai, where he scored 30 runs. He was one of the most destructive and aggressive openers in the history of test cricket. He played a total of 104 test matches and scored 8,586 runs at an average of 49.34 with 23 centuries and 32 half-centuries. He also took 40 wickets at an average of 47.35. He is the only Indian to score two triple centuries in test cricket.
- Harbhajan Singh: The turbanator was the tenth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2013 against Australia in Chennai, where he took 7 wickets and scored 11 runs. He was one of the most successful and versatile off spinners in the history of test cricket. He played a total of 103 test matches and took 417 wickets at an average of 32.46 with 25 five-wicket hauls and 5 ten-wicket hauls. He also scored 2,229 runs at an average of 18.22 with 2 centuries and 9 half-centuries. He is the fifth highest wicket-taker among Indian bowlers in test cricket.
- Ishant Sharma: The lanky pacer was the eleventh Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2021 against England in Chennai, where he took 3 wickets and scored 0 runs. He is the most experienced and most capped fast bowler in the history of Indian test cricket. He has played a total of 105 test matches and taken 311 wickets at an average of 31.93 with 11 five-wicket hauls and 1 ten-wicket haul. He has also scored 751 runs at an average of 8.54 with 1 half-century.
- Virat Kohli: The run machine was the twelfth Indian to play 100 test matches. He achieved this feat in 2022
