Stats: Ravi Ashwin fastest Indian to reach 150 Test wickets, Dhawan's dishonour and Pujara's annual six

Ravichandran Ashwin’s five-for destroyed the South African batting line-up

At stumps on Day 2, India have a lead of 142 runs over South Africa in the 1st Test at Mohali – on strength of Ravichandran Ashwin’s 5/51 and a 86-run partnership between Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara.

Some startling stats to have emerged in the course of the day’s action:

This was Ashwin’s 13th 5-wicket haul in Tests – in only 28 matches. Coming back from an injury lay-off Ashwin made a return to Test cricket in great style – picking up the wickets of Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Hashim Amla, Dane Vilas and Imran Tahir. He finished with figures of 24-5-51-5.

As a result of his five-for, Ashwin also became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 150 Test wickets,.and the joint fourth fastest in the history of Test cricket.

Fastest to 150 Test wickets – England’s Sydney Barnes (24 Tests); Pakistan’s Waqar Younis (27 Tests); Australia’s Clarrie Grimmett (28 Tests); England’s Ian Botham, South Africa’s Dale Steyn, Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal and India’s Ravi Ashwin (all 29 Tests).

Grimmett is the only spinner who reached 150 Test wickets before playing in 29 Tests, and so Ashwin also becomes the joint second fastest spinner to 150 Test wickets.

50+ partnership – Like many times before, Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara steadied the Indian batting innings on a difficult track – bringing up their 12th 50+ stand in Test cricket.

Indian openers with ‘pair’ – Shikhar Dhawan, who had announced himself in Test cricket with a 187 at the same ground, bagged his first 'pair' in this Test – departing for ducks in both innings. Pankaj Roy, Farokh Engineer, Wasim Jaffer and Virender Sehwag are the other Indian openers to hold the dubious distinction of having achieved this feat.

Pujara’s ‘six per year’ policy – India held the distinct upper hand over South Africa on Day 2, but with a lead that looked likely to slip any time. With his six in the last over, over the mid-wicket boundary, the first in the Test, Pujara seemed to stamp the authority that had been lacking throughout the day.

Interestingly, however, this is Pujara’s first six of 2015. He has hit one six each in 2012, 2013 and 2014 as well – going consistently at a rate of one six per year.

Lowest totals still to have earned lead – Another reason why this Test is unusual is that this is only the second time India have managed to get a first innings lead in a match played at home after having scored less than 200 – an indication of the minefield nature of the Mohali pitch. On the 1981 series against England, India had managed to get their opponents all out for 166 after having put up only 179.