Ravi Ashwin surpasses Harbhajan Singh to become India's 2nd leading wicket taker in international cricket

Ravi Ashwin is 2nd with 709 wickets, while Anil Kumble still leads the chart with 953 scalps to his name.

Indian all-rounder Ravi Ashwin continues to break records and create new milestones. During the first Test against West Indies, the Tamil Nadu cricketer broke Harbhajan Singh's record to become the second leading wicket-taker for India in international cricket.

The veteran spinner proved to be too good for the hosts as he grabbed five wickets in the first innings and then a seven-wicket haul in the second. He ended the Test with a combined figure of 12/131.

With this performance, Ravi Ashwin has surpassed Harbhajan Singh and now has 709 wickets in his 271 international matches. Most importantly, the all-rounder has played lesser games than most of his teammates in the chart. On the whole, Ashwin has picked up 27 four-wicket hauls, 34 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket hauls in international cricket career. He has the best of 7 for 59 in a Test innings.

Harbhajan Singh, who made his national debut in 1998, last played for India in 2016. He also has an impressive record of 707 wickets in 365 matches for the country. The spinner has the best of 8/84.

Anil Kumble still holds the top position in the leading wicket-takers chart for the country. He grabbed 953 wickets in 401 matches, with the best of 10 for 74 in an innings.

India's Top 5 leading wicket takers in International Cricket:

1 - Anil Kumble - 953 wickets

2 - Ravi Ashwin - 709 wickets

3 - Harbhajan Singh - 707 wickets

4 - Kapil Dev - 687 wickets

5 - Zaheer Khan - 597 wickets

Ravi Ashwin also created a few records during his magical spell against West Indies in the first Test. Ashwin became the first Indian to grab a five-wicket haul in both the first and second innings against West Indies. Overall, this is the sixth time, Ashwin has picked up at least five wickets in both innings of a Test match. No other Indian has achieved this feat. In the international arena, Muttiah Muralidaran has done it 11 times.

Also, Ashwin's 12/131 is the third-best bowling figures for an Indian in an away Test. Also, this is the third-best bowling performance by a cricketer in an Indian-West Indies competition. India's Narendra Hirwani holds the record for best performance with 16/136 in 1988 at Chennai.