IND vs NZ: Ashwin can create history in the first Test against New Zealand, the record of this legend is in ‘danger’

In the first test match against New Zealand, Team India’s senior spin bowler Ravichandran Ashwin can start with the new ball. It is believed that the pitch at Kanpur’s Green Park is helpful for the spinners. In such a situation, it will not be surprising to see Ashwin starting with the new ball. However, Ashwin has not played a Test match since June last year and is close to being ranked third among India’s leading wicket-takers, leaving behind Harbhajan Singh (417 wickets).

Ashwin has so far taken 413 wickets in 79 matches. Anil Kumble (619) and Kapil Dev (434) occupy the top two spots for most Test wicket-takers for India.

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Ashwin has shared the new ball in Test matches in the past as well. He has shared the new ball in 39 innings of 33 Test matches. On 15 of these occasions, he bowled the first over of the innings.

Ashwin shared the new ball in both the innings of the Chennai Test against England earlier this year while opening the bowling with Axar Patel in the second innings at Ahmedabad.

Ajinkya Rahane can hand him over again and if the pitch helps, it will not be easy for the New Zealand batsmen to face him. When Ashwin batted during the practice session, head coach Rahul Dravid also taught him some tricks about the backlift.

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India can go with three spinners in the first test match. Along with Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel could be roped in as the third spinner to take 27 wickets in his debut series against England this year. Jayant Yadav is the fourth spinner in the team.