Ravindra Jadeja Joins Herath and Vettori in Exclusive Spin Club

India placed themselves firmly in control of the Galle Test by the end of the third day, bowling out hosts Sri Lanka for 284 to establish a substantial 178-run first-innings lead following their own formidable total of 462. Alongside the team’s collective dominance, Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja carved out a historic individual milestone by dismissing Sri Lankan cricketer Keshara Nuwantha.

With that dismissal, Jadeja became only the third left-arm spinner in Test history to claim 350 wickets. The achievement elevates the Indian cricketer into an elite company previously occupied by only two men: Sri Lankan icon Rangana Herath at the summit and New Zealand great Daniel Vettori in second place.

Prior to the tour of Sri Lanka, Jadeja required just two victims to reach the landmark. Arriving in Galle, he had already built an impressive record over 89 Test matches, collecting 348 wickets at an average of 25.12 alongside 4,095 runs.

Reaching the milestone further cements his status as an exceptional Test all-rounder. Jadeja is now only the second Indian cricketer after the legendary Kapil Dev to achieve the double of 350 wickets and 4,000 runs in Test cricket. Crucially, he stands as the first Indian spinner to accomplish this remarkable double discipline feat.

Among left-arm orthodox bowlers in Test history, Herath’s haul of 433 wickets remains the ultimate benchmark. The Sri Lankan maestro retired as the most successful left-arm spinner the game has ever seen, a record that has stood unchallenged since 2018. Sitting between Herath and Jadeja is former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who picked up 362 Test wickets over a distinguished career spanning more than a decade. For many years, cricket pundits believed Vettori’s tally would remain out of reach for modern slow left-armers.

Jadeja’s entry into this triumvirate reflects his remarkable consistency across formats and conditions. A bowling average of 25.12 through his first 89 Tests underlines his ability to strike in diverse environments across the globe. His record includes 15 five-wicket hauls in an inning, with career-best match figures of 10 for 154.

Behind the leading trio, England’s historic left-arm spinner Derek Underwood occupies fourth place on the all-time list with 297 Test wickets, while Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam ranks fifth among left-arm spinners with 271 Test dismissals to his name.