India vs Australia: R Ashwin becomes fastest India bowler to pick 450 Test wickets, overtakes Anil Kumble

Digital Desk: In the opening Test of the four-match India vs. Australia Test series on Thursday, 9 February, India's R Ashwin recorded his 450th Test wicket. With his 450th wicket in his 89th Test match, Ashwin surpassed Kumble to become the fastest Indian bowler to achieve this milestone. 

The Indian off-spinner is now the world's second-fastest bowler to achieve 450 Test wickets, trailing only Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan, who accomplished the record in his 80th Test match. 

On Thursday, Ashwin dismissed Alex Carey in the 54th over of the opening Test match of the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which began on February 9 and will run until mid-March.

After the SG ball softened, the Nagpur pitch aided the spinners from the start. The off-spinner bowled Carey around the legs, breaking the partnership with Peter Handscomb that was threatening India.

Ashwin smashed into Alex Carey's stumps after the batsman failed to connect on his reverse sweep and was bowled around the legs. 

At the start of the match, the Indian pacers found swing with the new ball and removed both openers, Usman Khawaja and David Warner, within the first 20 minutes of play. While Mohammed Siraj trapped Khawaja with an inswinger, Mohammed Shami uprooted David Warner's off stump.

Later in the day, Ravindra Jadeja shook up Australia's middle order, taking three key wickets: Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Matt Renshaw.