R Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja, IND vs. ENG Harbhajan Singh and Pip Anil Kumble Set Records in Tests

On Thursday, spin combo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja made history by becoming the most successful bowling combination in Test cricket history for India. In the first Test match in Hyderabad, the star spinners took advantage of the spin-friendly conditions to take three wickets apiece after starting in the playing XI against England.

The two defeated the storied spin combo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh of India, who together amassed 501 wickets in their playing careers. Now in their 50th Test match together, Ashwin and Jadeja have combined to take 506 wickets.

Most wickets in a Test match by an Indian duo

506: Ravindra Jadeja – Ravichandran Ashwin (50 Tests) *

501 Harbhajan Singh – Anil Kumble (54)

Harbhajan Singh – Zaheer Khan 474 (59)

IND vs. ENG First Test Day 1

In the first-ever match of the series at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, England won the toss and elected to bat first. Ashwin and Jadeja then proceeded to unravel the English batting order early in the day.

England halted the Bazball for a short while in the opening session as Indian spinners made life tough for Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Ollie Pope.

Before spin was deployed, England had reached 41-0 in eight overs. Jadeja began with a maiden over, while Ashwin conceded only one from the other end.

Duckett persisted in his attack, hitting left-arm spinner Jadeja for two consecutive boundaries before Ashwin, who had broken a brisk opening partnership, trapped him leg before wicket in the following over.

When the towering opening smashed the ball to mid-off and Siraj made a low catch, which was upheld by the third umpire, Crawley gave Ashwin a second wicket.

India’s spinners held the visitors to 246 on the first day of play, with Ben Stokes scoring a valiant 70 to cap an aggressive performance. Before Stokes took over and increased the score, England lost wickets on a regular basis. Jasprit Bumrah, a pacer, removed the captain as the last wicket after tea.

After hitting a six off Jadeja to reach fifty, Stokes combined with rookie Tom Hartley (23) and Mark Wood (11) to form crucial stands.

He hit three sixes and six fours in his 88-ball knock.