New Delhi: Team India spinner R Ashwin will be eyeing a massive feat when the hosts take on Bangladesh in the upcoming two-match Test series between the two teams. The first Test will get underway in Chennai on September 19 followed by the second Test in Kanpur. India have already begun their preparations for the series with the national camp currently ongoing in Chennai.
The Test series will be an important one for the Indian team in their bid to reach a third successive World Test Championship (WTC) final. India have been a dominant force at home in Tests, thanks to their exceptional spin prowess and the hosts will once again rely heavily on the spin quartet of Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to deliver against Bangladesh.
Ashwin, who is the most experienced and arguably the most skilful in the lot, will be looking to topple Australia’s Nathan Lyon to achieve a stellar feat. The senior India off-spinner is only 14 wickets away from becoming the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship. Ashwin currently has 174 wickets to his name in 35 matches at an average of 20.43 with 10 fifers under his belt.
He is behind only Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins (175) and Lyon, who leads the elite list with 187 wickets in 43 matches. Ashwin has a chance to go on top of the list if he can enjoy a successful outing in the two-match series against Bangladesh and return with 14 wickets.
Highest wicket-takers in World Test Championship:
Nathan Lyon – 187 wickets
Pat Cummins – 175 wickets
R Ashwin – 174 wickets
Highest wicket-taker in England Test series
Ashwin was on top of his game in the Test series against England at home earlier this year and finished as the highest wicket-taker with 26 wickets from five matches to help India complete a 4-1 series sweep against the visitors. The senior off-spinner will be hoping to continue from where he had left as his performances will be crucial for India in the Test series against Bangladesh.
Ashwin is likely to be the first-choice spinner in the team alongside Jadeja or Axar. It remains to be seen what combination will India field in the first Test against the visitors in Bangladesh on September 19.
Team India spinner R Ashwin is on the cusp of achieving a historic feat in the upocoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh. India will play two Tests against Bangladesh in Chennai and Kanpur. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
