IND vs ENG: R Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja Pip Anil Kumble-Harbhajan Singh to Achieve Record Feat in Tests

Spin duo Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja scripted history on Thursday by becoming India’s most successful bowling pair in Test cricket. The star spinners started in the playing XI against England in the first Test match in Hyderabad and exploited the spin-friendly conditions to take three wickets each.

The duo pipped the legendary India spin pair of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh who claimed 501 wickets together during their playing days. Ashwin and Jadeja who are playing their 50th Test together have now taken 506 wickets.

Most wickets by an Indian pair in Tests

506 Ravichandran Ashwin – Ravindra Jadeja (50 Tests) *

501 Anil Kumble – Harbhajan Singh (54)

474 Zaheer Khan – Harbhajan Singh (59)

IND vs ENG Live Score 1st Test Day 1

England won the toss and chose to bat first in the series opener at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium as Ashwin and Jadeja spun their web early in their day to dismantle the English batting line-up.

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope were dismissed in the first session as England put the Bazball on pause for a few minutes with Indian spinners making things difficult for them.

England reached 41-0 in eight overs before spin was introduced and Jadeja started with a maiden over, while Ashwin gave away just one from the other end.

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Duckett kept up the charge and smashed left-arm spinner Jadeja for two successive boundaries but fell lbw in the next over to Ashwin, who broke a breezy opening stand.

Crawley gifted Ashwin a second wicket when the tall opener hit the ball to mid-off and Siraj took a low catch, confirmed by the third umpire.

Ben Stokes hit a defiant 70 to round out an attacking innings, with India’s spinners holding the tourists to 246 on day one. England lost regular wickets until Stokes took charge and lifted the total, before the skipper was bowled by paceman Jasprit Bumrah as the final wicket after tea.

Stokes reached his fifty with a six off Jadeja and put together key stands with debutant Tom Hartley (23) and Mark Wood (11).

His 88-ball knock included six fours and three sixes.