Indian spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin stands as a revered figure in contemporary cricket and is celebrated not just for his bowling but also for the profound impact he has left on the sport. With a remarkable tally of over 700 wickets in international cricket, Ashwin has etched his legacy deeply into the fabric of Indian cricket. His spin wizardry, acknowledged even by his adversaries, has been a pivotal force behind several iconic victories for the Indian cricket team.
A chase for records: Ravichandran Ashwin’s phenomenal stats
While Ashwin has showcased his skills across different formats, his contribution to Test cricket is phenomenal, boasting over 500 wickets in the traditional format. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer recently played his 100th Test match for India and marked a special milestone with a brilliant five-wicket haul that eventually led the Indian side to a resounding victory over England. This achievement also propelled him to the elite group of players who have recorded a five-wicket haul in their 100th Test.
Noteworthy is Ashwin’s impressive tally of 36 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, tying for the third position alongside Sir Richard Hadlee. With just one more feat, he could match the legendary Shane Warne‘s record of 37 fifers in the longest format, a testament to his consistency and excellence.
Debut to dominance: Ashwin’s stellar cricketing journey
Ashwin’s cricketing journey began with his Test debut against West Indies, a match where he immediately left his mark with a five-wicket haul. Since then, his contribution to Indian cricket has only ascended, marked by numerous match-winning performances, records, and accolades.
Also READ: BCCI secretary Jay Shah announces a new Test Cricket Incentive Scheme; know the latest reward structure
Accolades and achievements: An awards cabinet overflowing
Among his achievements are the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2014, membership in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup-winning squad, and the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning squad. In addition to these honours, Ashwin has been a recipient of multiple awards, including the Polly Umrigar Award (2012-13), the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year (2016), the ICC Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year (2016), and the CEAT International Cricketer of the Year (2016–17), among others.
Ashwin’s inclusion in various ICC Men’s Test Teams of the Year and the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade (2011-20) further underscores his consistent excellence in the longer format.
As Ashwin continues to make strides in international cricket, his numerous five-wicket hauls serve as a testament to his enduring skill, strategic brilliance, and unwavering contribution to Indian cricket. On that note, let’s have a look on all the international fifers bagged by Ashwin.
List of all five-wicket hauls picked by R Ashwin in international cricket
- 1st five-wicket haul vs West Indies – Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi (6 November 2011)
- 2nd five-wicket haul vs West Indies – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (22 November 2011)
- 3rd five-wicket haul vs New Zealand – Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad (23 August 2012)
- 4th five-wicket haul vs New Zealand – Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad (23 August 2012)
- 5th five-wicket haul vs New Zealand – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore (31 August 2012)
- 6th five-wicket haul vs Australia – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (22 February 2013)
- 7th five-wicket haul vs Australia – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (22 February 2013)
- 8th five-wicket haul vs Australia – Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad (2 March 2013)
- 9th five-wicket haul vs Australia – Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi (22 March 2013)
- 10th five-wicket haul vs Bangladesh – Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, Fatullah (10 June 2015)
- 11th five-wicket haul vs Sri Lanka – Galle International Stadium, Galle (12 August 2015)
- 12th five-wicket haul vs Sri Lanka – Paikiasothy Saravanamuttu Stadium, Colombo (20 August 2015)
- 13th five-wicket haul vs South Africa – Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali (5 November 2015)
- 14th five-wicket haul vs South Africa – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur (25 November 2015)
- 15th five-wicket haul vs South Africa – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur (25 November 2015)
- 16th five-wicket haul vs South Africa – Feroz Shah Kotla Ground, Delhi (3 December 2015)
- 17th five-wicket haul vs West Indies – Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda (21 July 2016)
- 18th five-wicket haul vs West Indies – Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica (30 July 2016)
- 19th five-wicket haul vs New Zealand – Green Park Stadium, Kanpur (22 September 2016)
- 20th five-wicket haul vs New Zealand – Holkar Stadium, Indore (8 October 2016)
- 21st five-wicket haul vs New Zealand – Holkar Stadium, Indore (8 October 2016)
- 22nd five-wicket haul vs England – Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (19 November 2016)
- 23rd five-wicket haul vs England – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (9 December 2016)
- 24th five-wicket haul vs England – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (9 December 2016)
- 25th five-wicket haul vs Australia – M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore (4 March 2017)
- 26th five-wicket haul vs Sri Lanka – Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo (2 August 2017)
- 27th five-wicket haul vs South Africa – Dr. Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA–VDCA Cricket Stadium, Vishakhapatnam (2 October 2019)
- 28th five-wicket haul vs England – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (5 February 2021)
- 29th five-wicket haul vs England – M. A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai (13 February 2021)
- 30th five-wicket haul vs England – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (4 March 2021)
- 31st five-wicket haul vs Australia – Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Nagpur (9 February 2023)
- 32nd five-wicket haul vs Australia – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (9 March 2023)
- 33rd five-wicket haul vs West Indies – Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica (12 July 2023)
- 34th five-wicket haul vs West Indies – Windsor Park, Roseau, Dominica (12 July 2023)
- 35th five-wicket haul vs England – JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi (23 February 2024)
- 36th five-wicket haul vs England – HPCA Stadium, Dharamshala (9 March 2024)
*Note: All these fifers by Ashwin are picked in Test cricket and he is yet to bag a five-wicket haul in white ball cricket. Ashwin’s 4/25 in ODIs and 4/8 in T20Is stand as his best figures in both of these formats, respectively.
