In a spectacular display of bowling during the second ODI in Indore, R Ashwin, the seasoned off-spinner, past the legendary Sachin Tendulkar in the esteemed list of Indian bowlers with the most ODI wickets. Ashwin outshone the Australian middle-order batsmen. Gave a stellar performance not by grabbing secured a crucial victory.
Tendulkar, an icon in the world of cricket, concluded his illustrious ODI career with a remarkable tally of 154 wickets. In a remarkable turn of events, Ashwin now boasts 155 wickets to his name, merely three wickets short of surpassing Sachin in this prestigious register.
The possibility of Ashwin achieving this milestone was within reach back in 2017, had it not been for a significant shift in captaincy. This pivotal change led to Ashwin’s exclusion from the white-ball squads, a period of absence spanning from mid-2017 to the beginning of 2022, temporarily halting his ODI appearances.
R Ashwin’s remarkable performance
Ashwin’s triumphant return to the ODI squad came after a break of 20 months, following just a single ODI series appearance. His resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable, signaling a strong comeback that could merit consideration for inclusion in the World Cup squad.
As it stands, Ashwin is not part of the roster for the upcoming ICC event. However, given his exceptional current form, he stands a strong chance of displacing Axar Patel and securing a coveted spot in the World Cup squad. The Indian cricket team holds the flexibility to make amendments to the World Cup squad until September 27, coinciding with the third ODI against Australia. The cricketing world eagerly anticipates an official announcement from the BCCI on this momentous day.
Anil Kumble Tops India’s list of Top Wicket-Takers in ODI
Turning our attention to India’s list of top wicket-takers, Anil Kumble, the legendary spin maestro, leads the pack with an astonishing 334 ODI wickets. Following closely is Javagal Srinath, who achieved the dismissal of 315 batsmen, leaving an indelible mark on the cricketing landscape.
The ranks include other formidable bowlers
The ranks include other formidable bowlers such as Ajit Agarkar (288), Zaheer Khan (269), Harbhajan Singh (265), Kapil Dev (253), Ravindra Jadeja (201), Venkatesh Prasad (196), Irfan Pathan (173), Mohammed Shami (170), Manoj Prabhakar (157), Ashish Nehra (155), and Ashwin (155), each contributing significantly to India’s cricketing legacy.
Looking ahead, it appears that Ashwin may not feature in the blueprint for the 2027 World Cup, and reaching the milestone of 200 ODI wickets remains an improbable prospect.