Ravichandran Ashwin creates history during Day 1, India vs Sri Lanka 2015 1st Test at Galle

This is the seventh time an Indian spinner has taken five wickets in the first innings of an overseas Test in the 21st century.

Ravichandran Ashwin started the three-Test series in spectacular fashion, taking 6 for 46 to bowl out Sri Lanka in the first innings before tea on Day One at Galle. Ashwin had Kumar Sangakkara caught by KL Rahul at silly mid-off; Lahiru Thirimanne caught by Ajinkya Rahane at slip; and Jehan Mubarak by Rahul at forward short-leg — all before lunch. He came back after lunch to have Angelo Mathews caught brilliantly by Rohit Sharma at forward short-leg, trapped Dhammika Prasad leg-before, and bowled Rangana Herath when the latter went for an almighty slog. Sri Lanka capitulated for a mere 183 in 49.4 overs.

In the process Ashwin registered the best first-innings figures for any Indian spinner outside India. His figures of 13.4-2-46-6 are significantly better than the 30-6-94-6 (8-ball overs) by Bhagwat Chandrasekhar against New Zealand at Eden Park back in 1975-76.

First-innings 6-wicket hauls by Indian spinners overseas:

This is the seventh time an Indian spinner has taken five wickets in the first innings of an overseas Test in the 21st century. Harbhajan Singh has achieved this thrice, Anil Kumble twice, and Sunil Joshi once. The last to do this was Kumble, when he claimed 5 for 84 against Australia at MCG way back in 2007-08.

Before Ashwin, the best figures by an Indian off-spinner in the first innings of an overseas Test were 5 for 32 by EAS Prasanna against New Zealand at Wellington in 1967-68.

Before Ashwin, the best figures by an Indian off-spinner in the first innings of a Test in Sri Lanka were 4 for 115 by Pragyan Ojha at P Sara Oval in 2010.

Ashwin’s record is also the fourth-best in the first innings of overseas Tests by all Indians. The top two spots belong to Kapil Dev (8 for 85 and 8 for 106), while Irfan Pathan (7 for 59) is third.

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