Ravichandran Ashwin enjoys view after scaling Mt 500

Rajkot, February 16

Ravichandran Ashwin is a content man after becoming only the second Indian to take 500 Test wickets and has no interest in chasing Anil Kumble’s national record of 619 scalps.

Ashwin dismissed England opener Zak Crawley in the final session on Day 2 and became only the ninth bowler to scale ‘Mount 500’ in Test history.

9 R Ashwin has become the ninth man, and only the second Indian, to reach the landmark of 500 Test wickets

98 At 98 Tests, Ashwin also becomes the second-fastest bowler to achieve the feat

The 37-year-old Ashwin said he is not aiming for more and trying to reach Kumble’s record. “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.

“What’s in store for the next two months? You play this series and then what lies ahead, you really don’t know. I don’t want to really jump the gun. I’ve kept it this way for the last 4-5 years and it’s been very simple and it’s worked for me?” he added.

The desire to excel and evolve has remained very intrinsic to Ashwin’s core existence but between 2018 and 2019, the ace spinner felt that it was all over for him, leave alone thinking about having a shot at 500 Test wickets. He spoke about the darkest phase of his career when he felt that he was hitting a “bottomless pit”. “For me, life has been all about ups and downs and for me the lowest point was the phase between 2018 and 2019. I was the ICC Cricketer of the Year and I was on top of the world and from there to actually go to a bottomless pit, was a very dark time in my life,” Ashwin said.

“But I need to be happy. I’m in a really, really good space in my life and I want this to continue. I don’t want to let go of the love for the game. At one point in my life, I was in a really dark space. I didn’t want to watch the game and that’s not where I want to go

ever again.”