Rahul Dravid on Monday said the Ravichandran Ashwin surpassing Harbhajan Singh’s tally of 417 Test scalps to become India’s third-highest wicket-taker in the format is a phenomenal achievement. The Indian coach’s statement came after Ajinkya Rahane and company drew the first Test against New Zealand at Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium. 

With Tom Latham’s wicket post lunch on day 5, Ashwin pipped Harbhajan Singh. The off-spinner then bowled Tom Blundell. He has 419 wickets after 80 Test matches, while Singh picked up 417 wickets in 103 Tests for India. Only Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434) have more. 

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“I think it’s a phenomenal achievement. I think you know Harbhajan Singh was a really fine bowler, someone I played a lot of cricket with; terrific bowler for India and what Ashwin has done, to be able to go past him in just 80 Test matches is a phenomenal achievement,” Dravid said at the post-match media conference.

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Ashwin not only picked six key wickets in the Kanpur Test but also scored 38 and 32 runs in the two innings respectively. 

“I would like to congratulate Ashwin on his milestone. Well done and hope he wins many more matches for India,” Harbhajan told PTI.

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“I never believed in comparisons. We played our best cricket in different times, against different opposition. I had done my best for the country back then and ditto for Ashwin, he did his best now,” the former India spinner added.

Dravid, who played with Ashwin towards the end of his Test career, further added, “He has just evolved, he has just kept growing. He is one of those guys who keeps thinking about the game, keeps changing, keeps evolving, that’s why he (has) got where he has. You don’t achieve what Ashwin has achieved without growing and improving and evolving. It is a pleasure to have someone like him in the dressing room and to work (with). I am really happy for him.”