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R Ashwin
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has achieved the unique record of scoring 1000-plus runs and picking 100 wickets against England across all formats. He is now the second Indian cricketer to reach the milestone against the Englishmen after former Indian captain Kapil Dev. Kapil Dev had scored 1804 runs and picked up 113 wickets in 50 matches. Ashwin picked 106 wickets and scored 1014 runs from 45 matches. Other 19 batsmen including Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, and MS Dhoni, have also scored more than 1000 runs against England. Anil Kumble (117) picked up 117 wickets against England.
On Sunday, Ashwin picked up his 350th international wicket at home and claimed his 29th Test five-wicket haul. The off-spinner has now equaled Australia legend Glenn McGrath. Ashwin is now only two five-wicket hauls away from surpassing England pacer James Anderson. Anderson, who played the first match against India, has been rested for the second game. The 34-year-old has also become the second-highest wicket-taker in home Tests with 268 wickets. He has surpassed his fellow teammate Harbhajan Singh who picked up 265 wickets. Anil Kumble leads the list with 350 wickets. Ashwin is only nine wickets away from reaching the 400-wickets mark in the game's most extended format.
Ashwin becomes the first bowler to dismiss left-handers 200 times
In the 2nd Test, Ashwin took five-wicket and gave away only 43 runs. Other Indian bowlers, including debutant Axar Patel and Ishant Sharma, took two wickets each. R Ashwin is now the first bowler to dismiss 200 left-handers. Stuart Broad was the 200th left-handed player dismissed by Ashwin. The spinner's average against left-handers is 19.55 and 31.24 against right-handed batsmen. Ashwin's most frequent left-hand victim is David Warner (10), followed by Alastair Cook and Ben Stokes (10). Muttiah Muralitharan dismissed 199 left-handers throughout his career.
Both India and England need to win the series to play New Zealand in the World Test Championship finals. Virat Kohli and Co. must win the series by 2-1 or 3-1 to qualify.