Jadeja becomes first Indian left-arm bowler with 350 Test wickets in Galle
Synopsis
Ravindra Jadeja is now only the fourth player in Test history to complete the 4,000-runs and 350-wickets double — joining Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori. The 37-year-old reached the landmark with a wicket that ricocheted off a teammate's thigh, in a match where India already hold a commanding first-innings lead of 462 against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Key Takeaways
Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian left-arm bowler to take 350 Test wickets on 17 August in Galle .
He is the fifth Indian overall to reach the mark, after Kumble (619), Ashwin (537), Kapil Dev (434), and Harbhajan Singh (417).
Jadeja is only the fourth player in Test history with 4,000-plus runs and 350-plus wickets , joining Kapil Dev , Ian Botham , and Daniel Vettori .
He is the third left-arm spinner globally to reach 350 Test wickets, after Rangana Herath (433) and Daniel Vettori (362).
India scored 462 in the first innings, led by Devdutt Padikkal's 167 ; Sri Lanka resisted through a 146-run sixth-wicket stand between Dickwella (80) and Dinusha (89).
Ravindra Jadeja etched his name deeper into cricket history on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Monday, 17 August, becoming the first Indian left-arm bowler to claim 350 wickets in Test cricket. The milestone arrived when Jadeja dismissed bowling all-rounder Keshara Nuwantha in the third session, with Shubman Gill completing a sharp catch at covers.
How the Milestone Wicket Fell
The dismissal unfolded in dramatic fashion. Nuwantha attempted to heave the ball towards the covers, but it struck the thigh of an evading Yashasvi Jaiswal at silly point and ricocheted to Gill, who held on cleanly. It was a fitting, if unconventional, way for one of India's greatest all-rounders to reach a landmark that no Indian left-arm bowler had reached before him.
Where Jadeja Stands in the Record Books
The 37-year-old is now the fifth Indian overall to take 350 or more Test wickets, joining Anil Kumble (619), Ravichandran Ashwin (537), Kapil Dev (434), and Harbhajan Singh (417). Among Indian left-arm bowlers, former fast bowler Zaheer Khan is a distant second with 311 wickets.
Globally, Jadeja is only the third left-arm spinner in Test history to reach the 350-wicket mark, joining Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath (433) and New Zealand's Daniel Vettori (362). Notably, the feat simultaneously delivered another elite distinction: Jadeja is now only the fourth player in Test history to complete the double of 4,000-plus Test runs and 350-plus Test wickets. Only Kapil Dev (5,248 runs, 434 wickets), England's Ian Botham (5,200 runs, 383 wickets), and Vettori (4,531 runs, 362 wickets) had achieved this double before him.
Match Context: Sri Lanka's Fight Back and India's Position
India had posted 462 in their first innings, with Devdutt Padikkal leading the charge with a commanding 167. KL Rahul (82) and Dhruv Jurel (51) provided crucial support on Day 2.
Sri Lanka mounted a spirited resistance after being reduced to 90 for 5. Niroshan Dickwella, returning to Test cricket after three years, scored a gritty 80, while youngster Sonal Dinusha made 89. The pair forged a 146-run sixth-wicket partnership, pushing the hosts to 236 for 5 before Prasidh Krishna removed Dickwella. Jadeja then struck to claim his historic wicket and put India firmly back in control.
Significance of the Milestone
Jadeja had missed India's one-off Test against Afghanistan before returning to the side for this Sri Lanka series. His return immediately produced history. This is the third major statistical landmark of his Test career in recent seasons, underscoring his status as one of the most complete all-rounders in the modern game. With the first Test still in progress, the Galle International Stadium has once again served as the backdrop for a landmark moment in Indian cricket.
Point of View
000-runs-and-350-wickets double is a threshold only Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori had crossed — three of the defining all-rounders of their eras. What mainstream coverage underplays is how Jadeja has quietly outpaced Zaheer Khan, India's most celebrated left-arm fast bowler, by 39 wickets — a gap that reflects how thoroughly spin has dominated India's bowling strategy over the past decade. The Galle pitch, historically spin-friendly, is an apt venue for this record, but Jadeja's consistency across all conditions is what separates a milestone from mere statistics.
NationPress
17 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Ravindra Jadeja set in the Galle Test against Sri Lanka?
Ravindra Jadeja became the first Indian left-arm bowler to take 350 wickets in Test cricket, achieving the milestone on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on 17 August. He dismissed Keshara Nuwantha to reach the landmark.
Who are the other Indians with 350 or more Test wickets?
Jadeja is the fifth Indian to reach 350 Test wickets. The others are Anil Kumble (619), Ravichandran Ashwin (537), Kapil Dev (434), and Harbhajan Singh (417).
What is the 4,000-runs and 350-wickets double in Test cricket?
It is one of the rarest all-round feats in Test cricket — scoring 4,000 or more runs and taking 350 or more wickets. Jadeja is only the fourth player to achieve it, after Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, and Daniel Vettori.
Which left-arm spinners have taken 350 or more Test wickets?
Only three left-arm spinners in Test history have taken 350 or more wickets: Rangana Herath of Sri Lanka (433), Daniel Vettori of New Zealand (362), and now Ravindra Jadeja (350-plus).
What was the match situation when Jadeja took his 350th wicket?
India had scored 462 in their first innings, with Devdutt Padikkal making 167. Sri Lanka had recovered from 90 for 5 to 236 for 5, thanks to a 146-run stand between Niroshan Dickwella (80) and Sonal Dinusha (89), before Jadeja struck in the third session on Day 3.
