Legendary India spinner Anil Kumble was amongst many former cricketers to congratulate Ravichandran Ashwin for playing 100 Test matches for India in Dharamsala. India is facing England in the fifth and final Test of their series at the HPCA Stadium.

Ashwin became the 14th Indian to achieve the feat, joining an elite list of Indian cricketers to have played 100 Test matches, following in the footsteps of Tendulkar (200), Rahul Dravid (163), VVS Laxman (134), Anil Kumble (132), Kapil Dev (131), Sunil Gavaskar (125), Dilip Vengsarkar (116), Sourav Ganguly (113), Virat Kohli (113), Ishant Sharma (105), Harbhajan Singh (103) and Cheteshwar Pujara (103).

IND vs ENG, 5th Test: Live updates

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Kumble called Ashwin a champion par excellence, while adding that he is proud of his achievements. Ashwin went past Kumble to become India’s leading wicket-taker in home Tests, while also breaching the 350-wicket mark in Tests at home.

“Congratulations on your 100 tests @ashwinravi99. Proud of all your achievements. Continue to win matches for India. A champion par excellence! Many more to come,” Kumble posted on ‘X’.

Former India batter VVS Laxman called Ashwin a remarkable cricketer, adding that 100 Tests is a hallmark of a true champion. Ashwin has claimed 507 wickets in 99 Tests, averaging 23.91, while claiming 35 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket hauls.

“A remarkable achievement by a remarkable cricketer. 100 Tests is a tribute to Ashwin’s passion, hunger, drive, pursuit of excellence and great endurance. To keep striving to get better is the hallmark of a true champion. Go well, Ash, have a wonderful game @ashwinravi99,” Laxman posted on ‘X’.

Former India opener Wasim Jaffer also congratulated Ashwin, calling him a perennial student of the game. In the ongoing series, Ashwin became just the ninth bowler to pick 500 wickets in Test cricket.

“A perennial student of the game who’s unafraid to go against convention. Has love and respect for the game, and is a true cricket fan. Could probably be last of his craft to play 100 Tests. Very big shoes to fill when he calls it a day, so celebrate him till he’s there,” Jaffer posted on ‘X’.

England won the toss and opted to bat first in the fifth Test. The hosts had taken an unassailable 3-1 lead over England in the Test series, bouncing back to win in Vizag, Rajkot and Ranchi following their 28-run loss in the series opener in Hyderabad.

STARTING XIs FOR 5TH TEST

India: Rohit Sharma (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Devdutt Padikkal, Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Shoaib Bashir.