The number 434 has been Indian cricket's pride since Kapil Dev retired from international cricket in 1994. Once he had surpassed Richard Hadlee's tally of 431 Test wickets, it was the envy of the cricket world till Courtney Walsh went past him in 2001. Eight bowlers have gone past Kapil since and Anil Kumble has remained India's highest Test wicket-taker for close to two decades.
On Sunday, R Ashwin claimed Sri Lanka's Charith Asalanka in the first Test to go past Kapil's tally. After finishing the second innings with figures of 4/47, he now stands at 436 wickets in 85 Tests.
"It's a big thing in his cricketing career to achieve that feat. When you grow up wanting to play Test cricket, you don't dream about these things," India's new all-format skipper Rohit Sharma said after the match on Sunday.
"I have been watching Ashwin for a long time and every time I watch him, he seems to get better. Ashwin is one player who always has confidence in his ability in what he wants to achieve and for the team as well," Rohit added.
However, with the emergence of Ravindra Jadeja as a formidable allrounder in the last four years, Ashwin has had to fight for his place in the eleven in Tests abroad. "I really can't tell you anything about his overseas place and why he doesn't fit in. Obviously, I have no idea as I wasn't part of the selection at that point and I can't tell you what happened and why he was left out," Rohit steered clear of the awkward question.
In the course of the press conference, though, Rohit identified Jadeja's attributes that have strengthened his position in the XI across formats. "To me, he is one of the top allrounders. To score 175 not out and take nine wickets in the game, he's just upping his game every time we see him. In the past as well when we played in India his contribution with the bat lower down the order and picking those crucial wickets… he seems to be adding a lot more to his game every time he plays. He's very hungry, as you can see," Rohit said.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/sri-lanka-in-india/india-vs-sri-lanka-1st-test-all-time-great-ashwin-goes-past-kapil-devs-434-wickets/articleshow/90042247.cms
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