India's Ravichandran Ashwin becomes joint-fastest bowler to reach 350 Test wickets

Off-spinner takes 66 matches to hit the milestone - the same as Sri Lanka great Muttiah Muralitharan

Ravichandran Ashwin, centre, celebrates after dismissing Theunis de Bruyn for his 350th Test wicket. AP Photo

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became the joint-fastest bowler, alongside Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan, to claim 350 Test wickets on Sunday during the first match against South Africa in Visakhapatnam.

The 33-year-old off-spinner bowled overnight batsman Theunis de Bruyn for 10 early in the morning session on Day 5 to achieve the milestone in his 66th Test.

Muralitharan also took the same number of matches to claim 350 wickets. The spin legend, now 47, retired in 2010 with 800 wickets - an all-time record. Ashwin's 350th wicket places him 25th on the all-time list of record Test wicket-takers.

Ashwin, who returned to the India team after playing against Australia last year, has claimed eight wickets so far in the first South Africa Test. He had bagged his 27th five-wicket haul on Friday.

Earlier in November 2017, Ashwin became the fastest bowler to reach the milestone of 300 Test wickets. He broke Australian pace ace Dennis Lillee's record by achieving the feat in just 54 matches.