Ashwin sets sights on breaking McGrath and Lyon's records in Bangladesh Tests

India's veteran spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, is all set to resume his international season with the upcoming home Test matches against Bangladesh. With 516 wickets in his Test career, Ashwin has his eyes set on climbing the ladder of all-time wicket-takers. As he prepares for series against Bangladesh and New Zealand, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia looms on the horizon, where Ashwin aims to leave an indelible mark on cricket history.

Ashwin’s record-breaking ambitions in Bangladesh and beyond

Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India's greatest spinners, has been a consistent force in Test cricket, especially at home. Since 2021, Ashwin has taken 109 wickets in home Tests, far ahead of his closest competitor, Ravindra Jadeja, who has 56 wickets. With his total of 516 wickets in Test cricket, Ashwin is currently ninth on the all-time list of wicket-takers. He is closing in on legends like Courtney Walsh (519), Nathan Lyon (530), and Glenn McGrath (563), with the real possibility of surpassing Lyon's tally in the upcoming home series against Bangladesh and New Zealand.

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Home dominance and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy

Ashwin is not only looking to climb the all-time wicket-takers' list but is also gunning for another milestone at home. With 363 wickets in home Tests, he is chasing Stuart Broad’s record of 398 wickets in home conditions. If Ashwin maintains his stellar form, he could surpass Broad in 2024. Ashwin's recent performance against England, where he took 26 wickets in 5 matches, shows that he is in fine touch. The upcoming matches in Bangladesh and New Zealand will serve as a precursor to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where Ashwin hopes to continue his dominance on Australian soil, where he has taken 39 wickets in 10 Tests.

With a strong support cast that includes Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Jadeja, and Axar Patel, Ashwin is poised for a stellar season ahead. The spinner is inching closer to securing his legacy as one of the greatest Test bowlers of all time, with the World Test Championship Final at Lord's as a possible crowning achievement.