Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned with a disappointing performance in the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in Bengaluru, but the 38-year-old has regained his mojo and is back to his best in the ongoing second match. Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Ashwin, who was introduced into the attack before the 10th over of New Zealand’s innings by Rohit Sharma, has now become the leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Ashwin achieved this feat when he dismissed Will Young in the ongoing match. Earlier, Ashwin had dismissed New Zealand skipper Tom Latham to equal Australian spinner Nathan Lyon’s tally of 188 wickets in the WTC.

Ashwin has taken just 39 matches to take 188 wickets, while Lyon has taken the same number of wickets in 43 matches.

The veteran off-spinner from India now has 189 wickets to his name at the WTC, while Lyon has 188 scalps to his name. Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are at the third and fourth spots respectively, with 175 and 147 wickets to their names.

England’s Stuart Broad, who has announced his retirement, is at the fifth spot with 134 wickets in his kitty.

Ashwin equals Nathan Lyon in total Test wickets

After picking up Will Young’s wicket, Ashwin has also equaled Nathan Lyon’s tally of Test wickets. Both spinners now have 530 scalps to their name in the longest format of the game.

Ashwin now needs 33 more wickets to go past Australia’s Glenn McGrath and become the sixth highest wicket-taker in Tests.

The Indian spinner would like to end his career with more than 619 wickets and take more scalps than Anil Kumble.

Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralidaran has the highest number of Test wickets (800). Australia’s Shane Warne is at the second spot with 708 wickets, while England’s recently retired James Anderson is at the third spot with 704 wickets.

Kumble and Broad are ranked fourth and fifth respectively, with 619 and 604 wickets to their names.

Coming back to the ongoing Test between India and New Zealand, the visitors won the toss and opted to bat first. The Kiwis lost Tom Latham and Will Young in the first session.

Earlier, the BlackCaps had defeated India by eight wickets in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bengaluru.