India are taking on New Zealand in the third and final test of the three-match series at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. While the Indian spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have been relatively quite in this series so far, given their track record in these conditions it only seems to be a matter of time before they come back into their zone.
Ashwin, a veteran of over 500 Test wickets, is on the verge of breaking an all-time Anil Kumble record. Currently both Ashwin and Kumble are tied with 37 five-wicket hauls each, the most for India in international cricket. Another fifer will help him get past Kumble's massive record. In addition, both Ashwin and Kumble are also tied on eight ten-wicket hauls in international record.
Before the start of the Mumbai Test, the veteran off spinner had 761 wickets from 285 matches at an economy of 3.38. Ashwin will fancy his chance of going past Kumble in the third Test especially as the hosts need him to come good with the ball after their first series defeat at home in the last 12 years. With crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) at stake, Ashwin will hope to help his team win the match and ensure they get closer to securing a berth in the titular contest next year.
Ashwin might be determined to do well for the team but he went wicketless in the first innings of the third Test. While Jadeja scalped a fifer and Washington Sundar got four wickets, Ashwin did not have anything to show to his name. Akash Deep picked up a solitary wicket with the new ball as India bowled New Zealand out for 235.
