'Surpassing Kapil Dev is a massive achievement' - Twitter congratulates Ravi Ashwin for becoming India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests

Veteran Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has added another feather to his already-illustrious hat as he became India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test matches. During Day 3 of the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka in Mohali, Ashwin went past Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 scalps in the format with the wicket of left-handed batter Charith Asalanka. The 35-year-old produced a ripper as Asalanka edged the ball and former Indian skipper Virat Kohli took a fine catch at slips.

In the list of India’s leading wicket-takers in the purest format, Ashwin is now only behind former leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who ended his career with 619 Test scalps to his name. Notably, the Tamil Nadu-born bowler has also entered the list of top-10 highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. Alongside Kapil, Ashwin piped Sri Lanka’s Rangana Herath to get the ninth place in the elite list.

Congratulatory messages pouring in for Ravi Ashwin

Needless to mentioned, Twitter went wild to celebrate Ashwin’s feat as congratulatory wishes poured in from different corners. Notably, Kapil took 434 Test wickets in 131 Test matches. However, Ashwin went past his tally in just his 85th Test match. He has truly been a nemesis for batters at least in the longest format of the game.

Making his Test debut in 2011, Ashwin burst onto the scenes with his spectacular performances and didn’t take long in cementing his place in the team. He even piped his senior pro Harbhajan Singh to emerge as India’s first-choice spinner. Not to forget, Ashwin is also a handy batter lower down the order and has five Test hundreds to his name.

He even scored a vital 61 in the ongoing game, tormenting Sri Lanka even further. Meanwhile, India’s triumph in the Mohali Test is a mere formality as the visitors were bundled out for 174 after the home team declared at 574/8. Following on, Sri Lanka lost their eight wickets inside 160 runs and they set to suffer a massive defeat.

Meanwhile, let’s look at how Twitter reacted to Ravi Ashwin’s latest achievements:

Fantastic landmark, @ashwinravi99!

To go past @therealkapildev paaji is an achievement in itself.

The way you were going, it was only a matter of time.

Wish you many more! 👍🏻#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/eK9SlIc16u

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) March 6, 2022

Congratulations for yet another milestone @ashwinravi99! Wishing you many more 👍 #crickettwitter

— Pragyan Ojha (@pragyanojha) March 6, 2022

Ashwin can be very proud of his journey that in the last couple of months he has gone past legends like Kapil Dev and Harbhajan Singh. Can he meet Anil Bhai at the summit? I think he can, what do you think? #INDvSL #CricketTwitter #Ashwin pic.twitter.com/4xUG9iEI09

— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) March 6, 2022

Congratulations ⁦@ashwinravi99⁩ . You truly deserve to be in this frame which is for legends. #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/Dg7W3bV9vT

— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) March 6, 2022

To get past Kapil paaji in the Test wickets tally is a big achievement. Well played @ashwinravi99 @therealkapildev

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) March 6, 2022

Big congratulations dear @ashwinravi99 brother for this achievement 👏👏👏👍 many more to come🤗🤗 https://t.co/3X1QZ8dNYf

— Sivakarthikeyan (@Siva_Kartikeyan) March 6, 2022

What a player you are @ashwinravi99 passing the great Kapil pajji in terms of most wicket is an achievement in itself.@BCCI @ICC #Ashwin #TeamIndia #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/hTC7ZH6wL7

— Mohit Saraswat (@saraswatmohit16) March 6, 2022

This match would be remembered for many many reasons: – Kohli's 100th match & 8000 runs – Rohit's captaincy beginning – Pant's heroics – Jadeja's brilliance – Ashwin surpassing Kapil Dev – Sri Lanka's surrender @cricketaakash @ImRo45 @WasimJaffer14 @StarSportsIndia #asksport

— Kashif Kamal siddiqui (@KashifKamalsid1) March 6, 2022

That is wicket no 435 for Ravichandran Ashwin. And he surpasses the great Kapil Dev as India's 2nd highest wicket taker in the purest format. Proud of you Ash. Already among the greats of Indian Cricket. @ashwinravi99 @bcci #TeamIndia#INDvSL #SLvsIND #bcci #Ashwin

— Karan (@KaranChoksi6) March 6, 2022

Kapil Dev Records before Test match After the Test Match#INDvSL #Jadeja #Ashwin pic.twitter.com/bUl9eT750A

— Anshul☕️ (@whiskey_sourr) March 6, 2022

Most Test wickets for India:

Anil Kumble – 619
Ravi Ashwin – 435*
Kapil Dev – 434
Harbhajan Singh – 417

Ravi Ashwin becomes India's 🇮🇳 second-highest Test wicket taker of all time.#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/tMMWkSO6XJ

— Ananthajith Asokkumar 🇮🇳 (@iamananthajith) March 6, 2022

Ravi Ashwin surpassed Kapil Dev's tally of 434 Test wickets 🇮🇳#Kapildev #Ashwin #INDvSL #IndianCricketTeam #Cricket pic.twitter.com/mklIJApW3l

— FirstSportz (@SportzFirst) March 6, 2022

The Ravis (Jadeja and Ashwin) are the major force for India's dominance in Tests than rest 9 combined.. Be it bat or ball

Btw congratulations to Ashwin to go past 434 of the great Kapil Dev#INDvSL #Jadeja #Ashwin #testcricket

— Kumar Vivek (@KumarVivvvekk) March 6, 2022