R Ashwin bid farewell to international cricket on December 18, 2024, meaning it hasn't even been a year since he was seen on the cricket field. Even though he is no longer active in the sport, he has set many unique records during his career that will not be easy to break.
Sports News: The great Indian cricket spinner R Ashwin is celebrating his 39th birthday today, September 17, 2025. Even after bidding farewell to international cricket, Ashwin has set records in his career that will remain challenging for many years to come. Ashwin, who retired from international cricket on December 18, 2024, established many milestones for India and the world in Test and limited-overs cricket during his career.
Even though he is no longer seen on the field, his fastest 350 wickets in Tests, the most Player of the Series awards, and many other incredible achievements will always make him an unforgettable star in the cricketing world.
R Ashwin's 5 Major Records
1. Record for the Fastest 350 Wickets in Tests
R Ashwin completed his fastest 350 Test wickets in his 66th Test match. This record is a significant milestone in his career. In achieving this feat, he earned the distinction of being the first Indian spinner and the first joint player in the world to do so. Prior to this, Sri Lanka's great Muttiah Muralitharan had also achieved this accomplishment in his 66th match.
Furthermore, Ashwin also completed 500 wickets in his 98th Test. He became the second bowler in the world to achieve this feat. Muralitharan had set this milestone in his 87th match.
2. Most Player of the Series Awards in Tests
Ashwin holds the record for the most Player of the Series awards in Test cricket. He won this award 11 times in a total of 106 Test matches. This achievement places him among the most impactful and consistent performers in Test cricket. His ability to contribute in every aspect of the match – be it bowling or scoring crucial runs – is confirmed.
3. Record of Taking 50+ Wickets in 4 Consecutive Calendar Years
R Ashwin has set a spectacular record of taking 50 or more wickets in four different calendar years. This feat proved challenging even for legends like Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. Ashwin achieved this record in the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2021. This record showcased his career's consistency and high-level bowling capability, which is decisive for any team in the game.
4. Record of 1000+ Runs and 100+ Wickets in Tests
R Ashwin also registered the record of scoring 1000 runs and taking 100 wickets in his career. He became the 8th Indian player to achieve this difficult milestone. From 2011-2024, he scored 3503 runs and took 537 wickets. This record indicates that Ashwin was not just a bowler but also an all-rounder whose batting often proved decisive for the team.
5. Record of a Century and 5 Wickets in a Test Innings
R Ashwin delivered a historic performance against West Indies at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, in 2011. He scored 103 runs and took 5 wickets in the same innings. This accomplishment makes him the third Indian player to achieve both a century and 5 wickets in an innings. This record highlights his versatile skills and his ability to play a decisive role for the team in pressure situations.
R Ashwin established a new dimension of spin bowling and all-round performance in Indian cricket. His records are unique not only in numbers but also in quality. He led Team India to victory in many difficult matches and became a source of inspiration for young players.
