Can Ashwin go past Kumble?

[Adam19]

Fastest to 300 wickets. He has slowed down a bit since then. Might find it difficult to keep that record going as Murali got to 400 wickets in 72 Tests and 500 in 87. I've seen a few discussions on whether he could get to Murali's 800. The problem is he's already 33. Murali was around 30 even when he got to 400 since he started playing for SL at a young age. Going past Kumble is a realistic target for Ashwin. He might play for another 6 years.

 

[srbhkshk]

One factor that helped Kumble (apart from him being a great bowler) is that the Indian teams were not packed with other wicket taking options. Ashwin did have some time where he had a similar advantage but it's not there anymore.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

He'd have to bowl in Pakistan though

 

[Daemon]

I’m gonna say no. He’s mentally frail and very unfit.

 

[ataraxia]

Don't really think he'll stay that long. May be remembered as greater than Kumble though, depending on how sharp his decline will come.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I’m gonna say no. He’s mentally frail and very unfit.

but such a big brain

 

[rtramdas]

very difficult to go past Kumble's tally. Ashwin is not a certainty in abroad tests for India moving forward. That reduces his chances a lot. But he has a chance of being the better test bowler though

 

[Logan]

I don’t think he will cross even 500 wickets. There are many other spinners apart from him.

 

[vcs]

I hope he can keep averaging ~25 for a few more years and keep winning us matches. He bowled really well against South Africa.

I don't want his career to tail off like Harbhajan. He shouldn't end up as a defensive containing bowler who finishes with a large but relatively meaningless career wicket tally.

 

[harsh.ag]

Since his batting has worsened while Jadeja's has become better, he won't be playing many (any?) away tests. Esp given that Kuldeep is probably a better option on some away pitches as well. Don't see him getting too many more than 450.

 

[h_hurricane]

I don't think he will go past Kumble in the wicket tally. However, he should end up as a better bowler than Kumble. Probably already is.

 

[vcs]

It will be hard to argue Kumble's above him if he gets another 150 or so wickets at the current average. Still, I find it hard to put him above Kumble TBH. The Asian teams Kumble faced were brutal against spin. He got nothing out of Sri Lanka and Pakistan most of the time, but whenever we did beat them, Kumble usually did something special (10-fer and some of his spells in Pakistan). Ashwin's job is eased by having a good support cast and good pace bowlers around him.

 

[Briggs]

He's too old now. No bowler in current times can take 800 wickets because they debut too late while Warne and Murali debuted in their teens

 

[h_hurricane]

Interesting to find that Kumble at the same age as Ashwin took just one more wicket than him. 358 wickets in 78 matches at 28.21.

Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com

Ashwin has 357 wickets in 68 matches at 25.43.

But the larger point stands. India adopting horses for courses policy and Jadeja being higher in the pecking order currently means Ashwin won't end up anywhere close to 600 wickets.

 

[Burgey]

I reckon he will tbh. Will take a serious injury for him not to. He’s pretty durable.

 

[Burgey]

It will be hard to argue Kumble's above him if he gets another 150 or so wickets at the current average. Still, I find it hard to put him above Kumble TBH. The Asian teams Kumble faced were brutal against spin. He got nothing out of Sri Lanka and Pakistan most of the time, but whenever we did beat them, Kumble usually did something special (10-fer and some of his spells in Pakistan). Ashwin's job is eased by having a good support cast and good pace bowlers around him.

Kumble was a deadset iron man. Remember his tour here in 03/04 he was ****ing awesome

Truly a three dimensional bowler.

 

[Spikey]

depends on what vehicle kumble is driving and whether kumble is turning

 

[vcs]

Yeah that Australian tour was his greatest ever performance, for me. Bowling with zero support (not counting Agarkar's fluky Adelaide 6-fer) against an incredible batting lineup in top form, on a bunch of roads.

 

[h_hurricane]

Yep, 24 wickets at around 29 in flat pitches against one of the best batting lineups ever was indeed heavyweight stuff.

 

[OverratedSanity]

His performance in 08 was great too. Picked up key wickets, bowled marathon spells, rightly called the Aussies piss poor sports and theyre still annoyed about that to this day. Quality stuff.