India’s star spinner, Ravichandran Ashwin, achieved a historic milestone on Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand in Pune. Ashwin surpassed Australia’s Nathan Lyon to become the all-time leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC), cementing his legacy as one of the greatest spinners in modern cricket.

Ashwin, who had 186 wickets before this match, needed just two wickets to overtake Lyon. He accomplished the feat early in the match by dismissing New Zealand openers Tom Latham and Will Young, bringing his total WTC tally to 188 wickets.

India make key changes as New Zealand set solid start

India made three significant changes to their lineup, bringing in Shubman Gill, Akash Deep, and Washington Sundar, while KL Rahul, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav were left out. New Zealand, on the other hand, made one change, with left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner replacing Matt Henry, who was out due to a "glute niggle."

New Zealand reached 92/2 at lunch, with Devon Conway batting on 47 and Rachin Ravindra on 5. Despite Ashwin’s record-breaking spell, the Black Caps made a steady start, having won the series opener in Bengaluru. With spinners expected to play a crucial role in Pune, both teams are bracing for a tightly contested match as New Zealand aims for their first series victory in India.

See Also: Shubman Gill replaces star India batter in the second Test against New Zealand

WTC highest wicket-takers

The World Test Championship (WTC) has seen some of the best bowlers dominate with their consistent wicket-taking abilities. At the top of the list is India's Ravichandran Ashwin, who now holds the record with an impressive 188 wickets, surpassing Australia's Nathan Lyon, who follows closely with 187 wickets. In third place is another Australian, Pat Cummins, with 175 wickets, showcasing his prowess as a fast bowler. Mitchell Starc, also from Australia, claims the fourth spot with 147 wickets, while England's Stuart Broad rounds off the top five with 134 wickets, reflecting his longevity and success in the longest format of the game.