India tightened their grip on the Galle Test match by the conclusion of day three, dismissing Sri Lanka for 284 in their first innings. Having posted a commanding total of 462 in their opening effort, the visiting side established a substantial 178-run lead. Amid India’s collective dominance on the field, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja scripted a historic personal milestone by removing Sri Lankan batsman Keshara Nuwantha.

The dismissal marked Jadeja’s 350th wicket in Test cricket, making him only the third left-arm spinner in the history of the game to cross that threshold. The feat places the Indian cricketer in rarefied company, joining Sri Lankan legend Rangana Herath and former New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori as the only slow left-armers to achieve the mark.

Jadeja entered the Sri Lanka tour needing just two wickets to reach the historic benchmark. Prior to the match in Galle, he had accumulated 348 wickets at an outstanding bowling average of 25.12, alongside 4,095 runs across 89 Test matches.

Reaching this figure further elevates his status among the game’s greatest all-rounders. Jadeja has become only the second Indian cricketer in history, following legendary captain Kapil Dev, to achieve the rare double of 350 wickets and 4,000 runs in Test cricket. He also holds the distinction of being the first Indian spinner to accomplish this all-round feat.

In the pantheon of left-arm spinners, Herath remains the benchmark with 433 Test wickets. The Sri Lankan icon retired in 2018 as the most successful left-arm slow bowler in Test history. Vettori occupies second place with 362 Test victims, compiled over a distinguished career that spanned nearly two decades. For years, commentators believed Vettori’s total would remain largely untouched by modern left-arm orthodoxy.

Jadeja’s arrival in this elite tier underlines his remarkable adaptability and sustained excellence over a long career. Maintaining a bowling average of 25.12 across his first 89 appearances highlights his ability to perform consistently on varying pitches around the world. His Test record features 15 five-wicket innings hauls and personal best match figures of 10 for 154.

Following the top three, former England spinner Derek Underwood holds fourth place on the all-time list for left-arm slow bowlers with 297 Test dismissals, while Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam sits fifth overall with 271 wickets.