With a five-wicket haul against Australia, Ashwin matches Kumble’s incredible performance and smashes the records of Harbhajan and Warne.

Australia has been destroyed. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, India’s spin combo, are causing Australia to crumble like nine pins as they attempt to catch up to India’s 223-run advantage after the first inning. In the first innings, Jadeja secured his 11th five-wicket haul. When Ashwin stormed through the Australian batting order to secure his 31st five-wicket haul, it was time for him to take center stage in the second innings. And with that, he surpassed Harbhajan Singh’s elusive total and tied Indian icon Anil Kumble’s amazing Test record. (India vs. Australia Live Score, Day 3 of the First Test)

In contrast to the previous innings, Ashwin single-handedly destroyed Australia’s top order. In the first innings, the new-ball combo of Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj opened the doors before Jadeja destroyed the middle order. With the removal of Usman Khawaja, he made the first stride forward. He then struck at regular intervals to get rid of David Warner, Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, and Alex Carey. These four hitters have all been struck out leg-before-wicket.

It was Ashwin’s 31st five-wicket haul, which is still second only to England’s James Anderson (32) among current cricketers and the seventh-most in Test history. He is now tied with Kumble for third place among Indian spinners, having scored 25 of them at home, behind Muttiah Muralidaran (45) and Rangana Herath (26).

The five-wicket haul increased Ashwin’s domestic wicket total to 320, passing Australian star Shane Warne and ranking seventh overall. After Kumble’s record of 111, 97 of his career wickets came in the rivalry between India and Australia in Test matches. Nathan Lyon and Harbhajan were overtaken by Ashwin (95).