Target 300
Sports Illustrated India|November 2016

Ashwin Might Have Missed Out Being the Fastest to the 200-wicket Mark by a Whisker, but He Still Has the Time and Opportunity to Be the Quickest to Breach the 300-wicket Club.

Vimal Kumar
Target 300

Who does the opposition fear most while playing in India? I posed this question to V.V.S. Laxman and Kapil Dev just before the start of the Test series against New Zealand. Both of them replied simultaneously, and not surprisingly, “Ashwin.” The two former greats looked at each other and each paused to allow the other to elaborate.

“Ashwin wins matches single-handedly. He is a thinking cricketer who is always striving to improve and someone who has been doing the same thing to his craft as

“Ashwin is what Kohli has been doing to his batting,” said Laxman. constantly

“I am a huge fan of his remarkable ability to change the course of a game in just a looking to add session. He can pick up five wickets in five overs and can turn the game on its head,” to his repertoire, added Kapil. 

Ravichandran Ashwin could have easily equalled an 80-year-old record, which which is a great is held by Australian great Clarrie Grimmett. But the unsatisfactory condition of sign. It also the outfield in Trinidad in the fourth Test shows that he is against the West Indies robbed Ashwin of the golden opportunity to break the longstanding bowling record. India’s 500th Test keen to continue in Kanpur eventually witnessed Ashwin his evolution” becoming the second fastest bowler in the history of the game to take 200 Test wickets. However, Ashwin shouldn’t lose heart. He now has a very good opportunity to go past another legendary Australian bowler. Dennis Lillee has the distinction of getting 300 Test wickets in just 56 matches. This record remains unbroken since 1981. After the Kolkata Test against New Zealand, Ashwin has 207 wickets and he needs another 93 in the next 17 matches to break Lillee’s record.

This story is from the November 2016 edition of Sports Illustrated India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the November 2016 edition of Sports Illustrated India.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM SPORTS ILLUSTRATED INDIAView All
Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory
Sports Illustrated India

Hockey World Cup- India Gears Up For Glory

Hosts India will have to play out of their skins to win their second Hockey Men’s World Cup title.

time-read
10 mins  |
December 2018
Best Fitness Games For Workout
Sports Illustrated India

Best Fitness Games For Workout

If going to the gym and bulking up the body is your idea of getting in shape, it’s time you reconsider it. From bodyweight training to resistance and high-intensity workouts, here is how you can ace the fitness game without giving up on your workout targets for the year yet again.

time-read
7 mins  |
January 2016
Novak Djokovic Has Proved His Mettle Yet Again
Sports Illustrated India

Novak Djokovic Has Proved His Mettle Yet Again

Sport can be cruel and unforgiving, but it is also humbling. Over the years, many great athletes have succumbed to the various forces in playmost of which, if not all, are not under their controland while some could never reclaim their past glory, others showed why they really can never be counted out. Novak Djokovic is one of them

time-read
9 mins  |
October 2018
Do Virat Kohli's Captaincy Skills Call For A DRS?
Sports Illustrated India

Do Virat Kohli's Captaincy Skills Call For A DRS?

No doubt Virat Kohli is the best batsman to have emerged from India in recent years. He is a lion among kittens, Atlas shouldering the weight of India's batting. But, as a captain overseas, he has a long way to go.

time-read
10+ mins  |
October 2018
Lebron James
Sports Illustrated India

Lebron James

In 2016, Northeast Ohio’s Favourite Son Used His Incomparable Skills to Deliver a Title to a Suddenly Revitalised City, While Using His Voice to Have an Even Wider Impact.

time-read
10+ mins  |
January/February 2017
Winter Workout: Hot Moves For Cold Days
Sports Illustrated India

Winter Workout: Hot Moves For Cold Days

With the advent of the chilly months, it can become tough to brave the cold and train when all you want to do is curl up under a warm blanket. Trainer Raoul Hirani and physiotherapist Tariq Wasim tell us how professional footballer keep going, without letting the cold play spoilsport.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2015
A Steep Learning Curve
Sports Illustrated India

A Steep Learning Curve

Making the transition from the junior level to the senior team has been quite challenging but a hugely rewarding experience.

time-read
4 mins  |
August 2016
Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio
Sports Illustrated India

Scorecard - Don't Blame It on Rio

Apathy towards the Olympics could cast golf in a negative light and jeo paradise its standing with the IOC for the 2024 Games and beyond.

time-read
5 mins  |
June - July 2016
Rahul Dravid: The Great Wall Of India
Sports Illustrated India

Rahul Dravid: The Great Wall Of India

Rahul Dravid’s contribution to Indian cricket or, rather, the game, is not just confined to his record with the bat. A true philosopher, he continues to inspire as well as serve cricket on and off the field.

time-read
4 mins  |
May 2016
P.V. Sindhu, Sportsperson Of The Year
Sports Illustrated India

P.V. Sindhu, Sportsperson Of The Year

A Dream Run at the 2016 Olympics was followed by major successes on the International tour, making Sindhu the unanimous choice for the sportsperson of the Year award

time-read
6 mins  |
July 2017