Ravichandran Ashwin pulls off a stunning performance in the WTC, surpassing Nathan Lyon's record in the 2nd Test between India and New Zealand

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin returned with a disappointing performance in the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in Bengaluru but the 38-year-old has found his mojo back and is back to his best in the ongoing second Test at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune. Ashwin, who was introduced into the attack by Rohit Sharma before the 10th over of New Zealand's innings, is now the leading wicket-taker in the history of the World Test Championship (WTC).

Ashwin achieved the feat when he dismissed Will Young in the ongoing game. Earlier, Ashwin dismissed New Zealand skipper Tom Latham to equalize Australian spinner Nathan Lyon's tally of 188 wickets in the WTC.

Ashwin took just 39 games to take 188 wickets while Lyon took the same number of wickets in 43 games.

The veteran Indian off-spinner now has 189 wickets to his name in the WTC while Lyon has 188 scalps to his name. Australian pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are ranked third and fourth with 175 and 147 wickets respectively.

England's Stuart Broad, who has announced his retirement, is fifth with 134 wickets in his squad.

Ashwin is level with Nathan Lyon in the total number of Test wickets

After taking the wicket of Will Young, Ashwin also equaled the number of Test wickets of Nathan Lyon. Both spinners now have 530 scalps to their credit in the longest format of the game.

Ashwin now needs 33 more wickets to overtake Australia's Glenn McGrath and become the sixth-highest wicket-taker in Tests.

The Indian spinner wants to end his career with more than 619 wickets and get more scalps than Anil Kumble.

Muttiah Muralidaran of Sri Lanka has the highest number of Test wickets (800). Australian Shane Warne is in second place with 708 wickets while recently retired Englishman James Anderson is in third place with 704 wickets.

Kumble and Broad are fourth and fifth with 619 and 604 wickets respectively.

Coming back to the ongoing Test between India and New Zealand, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat first. The Kiwis lost Tom Latham and Will Young in the first session.

Earlier, the BlackCaps defeated India by eight wickets in the opening Test of the three-match series in Bengaluru.