Who will R Ashwin join in the 100 Test matches club?

When R Ashwin takes the field in all whites next, likely against England in Dharamsala in the fifth Test of the series, it will mark his 100th for the country. With that, he will join 14 Indian cricketers and 77 overall in a century of Test matches.

Ashwin, with an impressive career of 99 Tests, has achieved 507 wickets, including 35 fifers and 24 four-wicket hauls. He’s also amassed over 3,000 runs as a batter while scoring five centuries.

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar suggested Rohit Sharma should allow Ashwin to lead the team onto the field in Dharamsala to recognise his significant contributions to the team.

We take a look at the previous Indian members of the 100 Test matches club:

1. Sachin Tendulkar (200 Tests)

Sachin Tendulkar, a legendary cricketer, marked his 100th Test milestone against England at The Oval in 2002 with a score of 54 with a notable partnership with Rahul Dravid.

His illustrious 24-year career saw him amass 15,921 runs, the highest in Test cricket history, and he holds the record for the most tons in Test cricket with 51 centuries.

2. Rahul Dravid (163 Tests)

Rahul Dravid, known as ‘The Wall,’ showcased his resilience and mastery in Test cricket with his enduring presence at the crease. In his 100th Test against England in 2006, he scored 52 and 9 despite India’s defeat, emphasising his consistency.

Dravid faced the highest number of balls in Test cricket (31,258), highlighting his impervious defence.

Having debuted in 1996 at Lord’s, he scored 13,288 runs at an average of 52.31, solidifying his position as India’s second-highest run-scorer in Test cricket.

3. VVS Laxman (134 Tests)

VVS Laxman made a significant impact during his 100th Test against Australia in 2008, contributing to India’s victory with scores of 64 and 4.

Prolific for his ability to stand tall amid crisis, he played a pivotal role in historic wins under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly and MS Dhoni.

His partnership with Rahul Dravid in the 2001 series against Australia, where they scored a record 376-run stand, remains one of the finest in Test cricket history.

Throughout his 16-year career and 134 Tests, Laxman scored 8,781 runs, showcasing his exceptional batting skills.

4. Anil Kumble (132 Tests)

Anil Kumble marked his 100th Test, against Sri Lanka, in 2005 with a five-wicket haul in India’s win.

The spinner played 132 Tests for the country and picked a total of 619 wickets.

Standout moment in Kumble’s career was when he took all 10 wickets against Pakistan in 1999.

5. Kapil Dev (131 Tests)

Kapil Dev, who led India to World Cup glory in 1983, reached his 100th Test in 1989 against Pakistan. In that milestone match, he scored 55 runs and took seven wickets.

Kapil is recognised as one of the greatest all-rounders of his time, holding the unique record of achieving more than 400 wickets and scoring over 5,000 Test runs.

6. Sunil Gavaskar (125 Tests)

Sunil Gavaskar had a remarkable Test career from 1971 to 1987, playing in 125 Tests and scoring 34 centuries for India.

He was the first player to surpass 10,000 runs in Test cricket.

His 100th Test against Pakistan in 1984 is a significant milestone in his illustrious career. He was the first Indian to reach 100 Test matches.

7. Dilip Vengsarkar (116 Tests)

Dilip Vengsarkar represented India in 116 Test matches and reached his 100th against New Zealand where he registered a rare duck.

Vengsarkar is remembered for three consecutive Test centuries at Lord’s in a career that saw him score 6,868 runs including 17 centuries.

8. Sourav Ganguly (113 Tests)

Sourav Ganguly, a respected Indian captain, played 113 Tests, scoring 7,212 runs with 16 centuries.

In his 100th Test against Australia in 2007, he made scores of 43 and 40.

Ganguly’s memorable 131 at Lord’s against England is a standout moment in his career.

9. Virat Kohli (113 Tests*)

Virat Kohli, the 12th Indian cricketer to play 100 Test matches, debuted in 2011 against the West Indies. With 8,848 runs at an average of 49.15, he reached this milestone in a match against Sri Lanka in Mohali in 2022, scoring 45 runs in the first innings as India won by an innings and 222 runs.

10. Ishant Sharma (103 Tests)

Ishant Sharma marked his 100th Test appearance in 2021 against England, becoming the second Indian seamer to reach this milestone. However, India faced defeat in that contest in Ahmedabad.

Ishant tallied 311 Test wickets during his career. His standout performance of 7/74 against England at Lord’s in July 2014 is considered one of India’s best away bowling displays.

11. Harbhajan Singh (103 Tests)

Harbhajan Singh, also known as the Turbanator, made history on 11 March, 2001, by becoming the first Indian bowler to take a hat-trick in Test cricket.

He had a successful 17-year Test career, claiming a total of 417 wickets.

While he did not achieve significant milestones in his 100th Test, he is remembered as a skilled bowler who played a crucial role in India’s success in cricket.

12. Virender Sehwag (103 Tests)

Virender Sehwag, a dynamic opener, holds the record for the highest individual score by an Indian in Test cricket, achieving it twice with scores of 309 and 319.

Known for his aggressive batting style, he revolutionised Test cricket and amassed 8,586 runs in 103 Tests.

Starting as a middle-order batter, he transitioned to an opener, making a significant impact on the game.

Despite scoring 30 and 9 in his 100th Test against England, Sehwag’s team lost by 10 wickets.

13. Cheteshwar Pujara (103 Tests*)

In February 2023, Pujara celebrated his 100th Test by helping India secure a win against Australia in Delhi with an unbeaten 31 in the second innings.

Despite a challenging first innings where he scored a duck, Pujara became only the second player, after Ricky Ponting, to achieve this milestone.

With 103 Tests under his belt, he has scored 7,195 runs at an average of 43.60, including 19 centuries.