Ravichandran Ashwin

It was a memorable 100th test match in Dharamsala for India's spin spearhead, who finished as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 26 dismissals.

India vs England 2024 5th Test: Centuries from Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma and a nine-wicket haul for R Ashwin helped the hosts win by an innings and 64 runs and claim the series 4-1.

R. Ashwin took four wickets on Day 1 of the fifth Test between India and England. This was the 100th Test of R. Ashwin's career, and the umpteenth where his finger spin bowling yielded rich dividends for India.

IND v ENG 5th Test in Dharamshala will be R. Ashwin's 100th Test for India. Ashwin made his Test debut in Delhi in November 2011. His six for 47 against West Indies in the second innings on debut earned him the first of numerous Player of the Match awards.

England rallied to win the 2012 series 2-1, their first in India since 1984-85.

India vs England 2024: The fifth and final Test match at Dharamsala will be special for R Ashwin and Jonny Bairstow who will feature in their 100th Tests.

Ravichandran Ashwin claimed his 500th Test wicket after removing Zak Crawley for 15 in the first innings, but a bigger talking point was him withdrawing from the match due to a family emergency after the second day's play.

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik hinted about Ashwin's imminent return on-air while commentating for the host broadcaster before the start of the proceedings on day four

Ashwin also became only the third off-spinner to achieve the feat and continues to be the second highest wicket-taker for India behind Kumble, who ended his career with 619 scalps.

Ravichandran Ashwin became only the second bowler after Anil Kumble to reach the landmark of 500 Test wickets and achieved the feat in his 98th Test match and was congratulated by many on social media.

India vs England 2024: Ravichandran Ashwin claimed the wicket of Zak Crawley, who was caught by Rajat Patidar for 15 in England's first innings.

R. Ashwin is likely to get this 500th wicket this week at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, in his 98th Test. That will make him the second fastest in history to 500 Test wickets, behind only Muttiah Muralitharan. R. Ashwin has another milestone coming up: if all goes to plan, he should be playing his 100th Test at HPCA in Dharmshala from March 7-11.

India vs England 2024: Ben Stokes, who decided to bide his time in the middle, took 33 balls to reach his score before he was bowled by Ravichandran Ashwin, much to the delight of his teammates and those present at the venue and watching at home.

India is certain to go in with at least three spinners in each Test as it may find the pitch conditions lip-smacking.

2024 promises to be an equally challenging year for India, with bilateral series scheduled both home and away and a T20 World Cup set to take place in the middle of the year.

There could be a fairytale return to World Cup cricket for R. Ashwin on October 8 at the ground where he evolved as a cricketer, the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

R Ashwin replaced Axar Patel in India's final 15-member squad on Thursday.

Senior players including skipper Rohit Sharma, senior batter Virat Kohli, all-rounder Hardik Pandya and in-form spinner Kuldeep Yadav were rested from the first two games, giving them a chance to get mentally fresh for the mega event.

Kuldeep Yadav was picked as the lone specialist spinner in India's initial 15-member squad for the World Cup on home soil, along with spin-bowling all-rounders Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel.