Harbhajan Singh feels Ravichandran Ashwin will break his record and get to 500 Test wickets

Every time Ravichandran Ashwin walks out on the field, he more often than not breaks some or the other record. In the first Test against South Africa, he picked up his 350th Test wicket. He also became the joint-fastest (along with Muttiah Muralitharan) to get to the landmark. In fact, Ashwin is also the fastest to reach the 300 wickets landmark.

Thus, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner has been a big match-winner for India. In fact, only Nathan Lyon has more Test wickets (355) than Ashwin since the latter’s debut. The Indian off-spinner has taken 27 five-wicket hauls in just 66 Test matches. Hence, he is closing in on a couple of Indian records. Harbhajan Singh has taken 417 wickets in his Test career while Kapil Dev has 434.

Thus, fellow off-spinner and commentator Harbhajan admitted that Ashwin can definitely go past his record and also break the 500-mark. However, he felt that 600 Test wickets is a touch far. “I am not sure about 600 wickets, but 417 is very close. The way he is going, he can definitely achieve that 400-wicket mark and can get to 500 wickets. 600 Test wickets is very far but if he has to achieve that, he has to keep himself very fit and prolong his career. I think if he is fit, he can achieve anything,” Harbhajan Singh was quoted saying to India Today.

Harbhajan defends Ashwin’s home record

There has often been criticism on Ashwin as he has taken most of his 350 Test wickets at home. In fact, 242 of his wickets have come at home while he has picked up only 108 from 27 Test matches outside India. However, Harbhajan has come out in defense of the 33-year-old spinner and said that it is his consistency and knowing where to bowl on these pitches which has led to Ashwin’s strong home record.

“Ashwin has been brilliant with the ball. When we talk about home conditions, he has been very good and one cannot discredit him for that. Why is he taking more wickets than other spinners at home? ” the veteran off-spinner who is doing commentary in this India-South Africa Test series added.

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