India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made a stunningcomeback to international cricket after a gap of almost 9 months. Ashwin pickedup seven wickets to bowl South Africa out for 431 and keep India’s nose infront despite brilliant counter-attacking centuries from South Africanleft-handers Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock in the first India vs South AfricaTest match. Ashwin, who bagged his 27th five-wicket haul on Friday, took theremaining two wickets to wrap up the innings in the morning session on Day 4 inVisakhapatnam. With that the Indian off-spinner took himself on the doorstepsof a massive record. Ashwin is now just 1 wicket away from equalling SriLanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan’s world record of being the fastest to 350 Testwickets.

Ashwin, who has 349 wickets to his name, needs pick up 1more wicket in this match to equal Murali’s world record. The Sri Lankan spinwizard also is the all-time highest wicket taker in Test matches with 800scalps to his credit. Murali had achieved the milestone in his 66th Test matchback in 2001 against Bangladesh. Ashwin too is making his 66th appearance inthe purest format of the game.

Ashwin got overnight batsman Keshav Maharaj out for nine andthen trapped Kagiso Rabada for 15 as the Proteas conceded a 71-run lead inresponse to India’s 502 for seven declared.