Top five biggest achievements of Ravichandran Ashwin in international cricket

On December 18, 2024, a great chapter in the history of cricket concluded as Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing to a close a remarkable 14-year career.

The off-spinner, hailing from Tamil Nadu, made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2010, followed by his Test debut in 2011. He swiftly secured his place in the Indian national team across all three formats and emerged as a prominent figure in the sport, recognized as one of India's most significant match-winners in Test cricket.

With Ashwin at the forefront, India cemented a historic legacy at home in test cricket by winning all home series from 2012 to October 2024.

The occurrence of Ashwin having a subpar series was not merely coincidental; it directly correlated with the collapse of India's home dominance. This situation underscores both his exceptional match-winning capabilities and India's dependence on this outstanding cricketer during home matches.

Throughout his career, Ashwin reached remarkable milestones that he may not have envisioned. In this article, let’s explore five of his most notable accomplishments.

1. No. 1 ranked Test bowler and all-rounder

Ravichandran Ashwin has achieved the distinction of being the No. 1 ranked ICC Test bowler on six occasions throughout his career, with his most recent achievement occurring in March of this year. Additionally, he has held the No. 1 ranking for Test all-rounders multiple times during his career.

2. Second most wickets for India in international cricket and in Test cricket

Ashwin concluded his career with a total of 765 international wickets and 537 wickets in Test cricket, ranking second among Indian bowlers in both categories. Anil Kumble holds the top position in these statistics, having achieved 953 international wickets and 619 Test wickets.

3. Won ICC ODI World Cup and Champions Trophy

One of Ashwin's most cherished memories as a white-ball cricketer includes his triumph in the ICC ODI World Cup 2011, along with his victory in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.

Although he played in only a few matches during the 2011 World Cup, where he took two wickets in the quarter-final against Australia, he played a key role in the 2013 Champions Trophy victory. In that tournament, he claimed eight wickets, including an impressive performance of 2/15 in the final against the host nation, England.

4. Joint most Man of the Series awards in Test cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin bagged 11 Man of the Series awards in test cricket, the joint-most alongside Muttiah Muralitharan.

5. ICC Awards

In 2016, Ashwin received the prestigious ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year award, along with the title of Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year, covering the timeframe from 14 September 2015 to 20 September 2016. Additionally, he was included in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year for the years 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2023.

Cover Credits - BCCI Official