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“He can challenge Muralitharan’s record if he remains fit” – Sanjay Bangar on R Ashwin
By SMCS - Dec 6, 2021 1:00 pm
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Former Team India coach Sanjay Bangar believes veteran India off-spinner R Ashwin could break legendary spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s record tally of Test wickets if he remains fit for a few more years. However, Ashwin became India’s third-highest wicket-taker in the longer format in the first match against New Zealand, surpassing Harbhajan Singh as well. He has claimed seven wickets so far in the ongoing second Test and is just eight short of Kapil Dev’s tally.

Sanjay Bangar
Sanjay Bangar

During a discussion on Star Sports, Sanjay Bangar said: “He can challenge Muralitharan’s record if he remains fit for a long time because Muttiah Muralitharan has himself said that if someone can break his record, it is Ravichandran Ashwin.”

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He also added that R Ashwin’s career has seen a sudden improvement. Moreover, he has returned to India’s T20I team as well. However, he will need a lot of effort to surpass Muralitharan’s tally of 800 wickets.

R Ashwin
Virat Kohli and R Ashwin

Sanjay Bangar elaborated: “The way he bowls and bowls the long spells and we have seen of late that it is his second wing because he has made a comeback in T20 cricket as well. He has concentrated more on his off-spin while playing Test cricket. So I feel the indications are good that he might cross that milestone as well.”

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Aakash Chopra also opened up on R Ashwin’s achievement and said: “It’s incredible because there were four Test matches in between where he didn’t play at all. He did not play the Brisbane Test as well because he was injured. He has taken 50 wickets in a year even after missing five matches. So you will have to bow before his stature in the team. He does a fantastic job, picks up wickets. I feel he will take a five-wicket haul tomorrow as well.”