Ravichandran Ashwin

Kanpur: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will work towards regaining the No.1 spot in the Test bowlers rankings in the three-match series against New Zealand.

The first match, India's 500th Test, will begin here today. Third-ranked Ashwin, who held the top spot for a fortnight at the end of 2015 and again for a week in July this year, starts the series just 19 points adrift of top-ranked Dale Steyn of South Africa and 11 points behind England's James Anderson.

Ashwin needs only seven wickets to reach 200 Test wickets and could become the second fastest to the milestone after Australia leg-spinner Clarrie Grimmett if he achieves the feat in the series opener at Kanpur, which will be his 37th Test.