Ravichandran Ashwin could be on a record-breaking spree against Bangladesh - here's why

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will be licking his lips at the prospect of bowling on spin-friendly Indian wickets in the upcoming five Tests that Rohit Sharma & Co will play at home, beginning with the two-match series against Bangladesh, followed by three Tests against New Zealand.

Having reached the landmark of 100 Tests, India's best off-spinner and the current world No. 1 Test bowler will be well rested when he marks his run-up to spin a web around the Bangladesh batsmen, starting with the first Test of the series beginning September 19 at Ashwin's home ground -- the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Besides that, the 37-year-old bowler with 516 Test wickets to his credit is on the verge of creating multiple records in the coming series, which will also mark the start of home stretch in the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Most wickets in international matches played in India: With 455 wickets in 126 matches across Tests, ODIs and T20Is on Indian soil, Ashwin is second only to the legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who ended his career with 476 international wickets to his name in matches he played in India.

Most WTC wickets: Since the start of the WTC in 2019, Ashwin has taken 174 wickets in 35 Tests. The record currently, however, is held by his fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon of Australia, who is 13 ahead, at 187 wickets in WTC.

Most five-wicket hauls in WTC: Ashwin's 10 five-wicket hauls in 34 matches in WTC since 2019 is a record that he currently shares with Lyon.

Most wickets in the 2023-25 WTC: The wicket-takers' list for the ongoing WTC cycle is in the name of pacer Josh Hazlewood who has taken 51 wickets, which means Ashwin, who has 42 to his credit, needs 10 more wickets to go past the Australian.

Most wickets in India-Bangladesh Tests: India's best bowler in Test battles with Bangladesh to date is Zaheer Khan. The former left-arm pacer took 31 wickets, which is the most by any Indian bowler. Ashwin is second on the list and needs nine wickets to add to his 23 and go past Zaheer.

Ashwin, who will celebrate his 38th birthday on September 17, will also be looking to go on possibly his last tour of Australia later this year when India travel Down Under to defend the Border Gavaskar Trophy in a series of five Tests.