India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh on Sunday congratulated Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan for equaling the world record tally of 708 Test wickets.

Muralitharan took four for 30 in the first innings in the first Test against England in Kandy to join Shane Warne at the top of the wicket-taking list in Tests.

"Congratulations to Muralitharan. Taking wickets is nothing new to him, you cannot call it a habit, it is more like a hunger for him and he just keeps on taking wickets," Harbhajan said.

Muralitharan will now hope to go past Warne when the third day resumes on Monday. His tally now stands at 708 wickets in his 116th Test, while leg-spinner Warne finished with the same number of wickets in 145 Tests.

"I must say hats off to him. He is a great bowler, great guy to be with," said Harbhajan.

India's veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble is third on the wicket-taking list with 575 wickets.