Ravichandran Ashwin, after joining the elite club of cricketers with 500 Test wickets, shared his thoughts on reaching the monumental milestone and addressed the possibility of surpassing Anil Kumble's record of 619 wickets. Following his dismissal of England's Zak Crawley on day two, Ashwin became the ninth bowler in Test history to achieve this feat, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career.
Speaking to the media, the 37-year-old off-spinner expressed contentment with his current achievements and showed little interest in setting new targets, including that of overtaking Anil Kumble's career haul of 619 Test wickets.. "The very simple answer is ‘no’… 120 wickets away. Every day is what I want to live for, and, I'm 37 years old. I don't know what's in store next,” Ashwin said, emphasizing his focus on the present rather than future records.
Reflecting on his cricketing journey, Ashwin recounted his initial days as an "accidental spinner" who aspired to be a batsman. His transition from aspiring batsman to a celebrated spinner began in the Chennai Super Kings dressing room, where circumstances led him to take up the role of a new ball bowler. Ashwin's early success in first-class cricket and visibility through the Indian Premier League (IPL) paved the way for his Test debut, despite doubts about his ability in the longest format of the game.
Ashwin's philosophical outlook towards his career and achievements was evident as he discussed his perspective on perception and happiness. "I've always fought a level of perception in my life, about what people think of me. But definitely, in the last 5-6 years, I've actually not cared about it," he stated, highlighting his journey towards finding contentment and maintaining his passion for cricket.
The off-spinner also shared insights on his camaraderie with Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, noting the similarities in their careers and mutual respect. Lyon's recent congratulatory message following Ashwin's 500th wicket underscored the friendly rivalry and mutual admiration between the two.
Regarding the pitch conditions in the ongoing third Test, Ashwin noted that unless the cracks open up, the surface is expected to remain conducive for batting. His analysis suggests a typical Rajkot wicket that will likely slow down as the match progresses.
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(With PTI and AP inputs)