India and New Zealand are currently competing in the second Test of their three-match series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium in Pune. For India, this match is crucial after New Zealand secured an 8-wicket victory in the opening game. A significant portion of the team’s hopes rests on the performance of their three spinners: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, who is making a comeback. In the first session of the day, Ashwin delivered a strong performance by taking two key wickets, putting New Zealand on the back foot.
With this achievement, Ashwin has now claimed 188 wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC), making him the all-time leading wicket-taker in WTC history, surpassing Nathan Lyon’s previous record of 187 wickets.
Leading Wicket-Takers in WTC History:
Ravichandran Ashwin (India) – 188
Nathan Lyon (Australia) – 187
Pat Cummins (Australia) – 175
Mitchell Starc (Australia) – 147
Stuart Broad (England) – 134
Ashwin’s two dismissals included Tom Latham and Will Young, which helped him reach this remarkable milestone. If he manages to take 12 more wickets in the WTC, he will be the first bowler to achieve the 200-wicket mark.
Additionally, Ashwin has become the highest wicket-taker in Test matches at the MCA Stadium in Pune, reaching a total of 15 wickets. With two more scalps, he would further solidify his position as the first bowler to reach 15 wickets at this venue.
Highest Wicket-Takers at MCA Stadium, Pune:
Ravichandran Ashwin – 15
Steven O’Keefe – 12
Umesh Yadav – 12
Ravindra Jadeja – 9
Nathan Lyon – 5
In preparation for this crucial Test, India made several changes to their playing XI, dropping KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav, while bringing in Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar.
India’s Playing XI for the Second Test Against New Zealand:
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rohit Sharma (c)
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Rishabh Pant (w)
Sarfaraz Khan
Ravindra Jadeja
Washington Sundar
Ravichandran Ashwin
Akash Deep
Jasprit Bumrah
