'It's wonderful to see him right up there' - Anil Kumble lauds Ravichandran Ashwin after significant milestone in Tests

As the fourth Test progresses in Ranchi between India and England, India is well-placed to emerge triumphant and further assert their series lead to 3-1. Indian off-spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, reached a significant milestone, which earned him praise from former Indian spinner, Anil Kumble.

Ashwin's 35th five-wicket haul in Test cricket served as a display of his proficiency as he showcased his abilities against England's batting lineup. This achievement propelled him to join an elite league, simultaneously equalling Kumble's record for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian in Test cricket. In the last Test in Rajkot, he became the ninth bowler and only second Indian after Kumble to pick 500 wickets in Test cricket. In the visitors' second innings in the ongoing fourth Test In Ranchi, the veteran spinner ended with figures of 5/51 in 15.5 overs.

It was a fantastic effort from Ashwin: Anil Kumble

Reflecting on Ashwin's exemplary performance, Kumble expressed his admiration and conveyed a special wish for the offie to surpass his record. Speaking on JioCinema after the day's play, Kumble lauded Ashwin's pivotal role.

"Oh, yes. It was a fantastic effort from Ashwin. Much-needed because at lunchtime, I think there was a question asked saying, Ashwin hasn't had a great impact on the series. I mean, this is the most important day of the series for India to go ahead in the series. And look at those 35 five-wicket hauls, it's quite amazing to see records coming in for Ashwin," Kumble said.

Also read: Ravichandran Ashwin's 'mental switch' keeps India ahead in Ranchi

Recognizing Ashwin's excellence as a champion bowler, Kumble underscored the spinner's proficiency in continually evolving and adapting.

"It's wonderful to see Ashwin right up there, and I'm sure he'll go beyond that. He still has a lot of matches to play for India and starts winning as well. He's done that throughout. That's why I said, when someone has sort of given you that kind of start to his Test career, the expectations just go higher and higher and higher," Kumble added.

"And when someone doesn't pick up two five-wickets in two innings or in two Test matches, people talk about his form, about his action, about why he's changing this while he's changing that. But you know you need to. That is all noise. You just need to keep that away and champion bowlers do that. And Ashwin has certainly done that in this innings where India needed him most. The spinners had to come to the party in this innings and knocking England out for less than 150 is a brilliant effort from Ashwin," the ex-Indian bowler concluded.

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