On the final day of the four-match Test series between the hosts India and visitors Australia (Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2022/23), though we experienced a dull day, Indian slow left-arm orthodox Axar Patel completed his 50 Test wickets. Moreover, breaking the right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah’s record, Patel became the fastest Indian to reach the 50 Test wickets milestone (in terms of balls bowled).
The Ahmedabad Test was finished with a boring draw as the host India won the home Border-Gavaskar Trophy by a 2-1 margin and retained that trophy. That draw also ensured India’s spot for the Final of the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 (however, they secured their place in the tournament Final a few hours before the Ahmedabad Test result after Sri Lanka lost against the hosts New Zealand in the Christchurch Test).
On the early finished fifth day of the Ahmedabad Test, we experienced only two wickets fall in the Australian second innings. While the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed the opener and night-watchman Matthew Kuhnemann (6) in the early morning of the final day, Axar Patel bowled the other opener Travis Head on nervous-ninety (90) just before the tea break.
Axar Patel broke Jasprit Bumrah’s record
With the wicket of Head, Patel completed his 50 Test wickets. The right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was the previous record holder of the fastest Indian bowler to complete 50 Test wickets (in terms of balls bowled) by reaching that milestone in 2465 balls. Patel took only 2205 balls to reach 50 wickets in his Test career.
Fastest Indian bowlers to complete 50 Test wickets (in terms of balls bowled)
Player | Balls bowled to complete 50 wickets |
Axar Patel | 2205 |
Jasprit Bumrah | 2465 |
Karsan Ghavri | 2534 |
Ravichandran Ashwin | 2597 |
Also Read | Ravichandran Ashwin: 2nd Fastest To Complete 450 Test Wickets
Axar Patel: 50 Test wickets in 12 matches
On the other hand, Axar Patel took 12 Test matches to reach 50 wickets in his Test career.
Fastest Indian left-arm bowler to complete 50 Test wickets.
Joint fifth fastest Indian spinner to complete 50 Test wickets.
Joint sixth fastest Indian bowler to complete 50 Test wickets.
Fastest Indian bowlers to complete 50 Test wickets (in terms of matches)
Player | Bowling style | Matches complete 50 wickets |
Ravichandran Ashwin | Right arm offbreak | 9 |
Anil Kumble | Right arm leg break | 10 |
Narendra Hirwani | Right arm leg break | 11 |
Harbhajan Singh | Right arm offbreak | 11 |
Jasprit Bumrah | Right arm fast | 11 |
Subhash Gupte | Right arm leg break | 12 |
Bhagwath Chandrasekhar | Right arm leg break | 12 |
Erapalli Prasanna | Right arm offbreak | 12 |
Axar Patel | Slow left arm orthodox | 12 |