"That fire is still burning but I don’t know how long will it last" - Ravichandran Ashwin on his career's future
Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that he is not at all thinking of milestones as far as his Test career goes. The veteran cricketer stated that he still has the drive to win India matches, but is unsure of till when it will go.
The home series against England earlier this year saw the 38-year-old cross 500 Test scalps. He is currently on 527, 92 adrift of India's record-holder Anil Kumble, who took 619 wickets in 132 Tests.
Speaking on Jio Cinema, Ashwin, who earned the Player of the Series Award for his all-round show against Bangladesh, said he is taking one Test and one day at a time. He said:
"I don’t know. I think if you have miles in your legs and you can run really well. Look I think, it’s a day-to-day thing. Like I said, the joy of walking out there and going to a net and have that enthusiasm to be able to try and practice something is what drives me. As of now, that fire is still burning but I don’t know how long will it last. I don’t want to think about it and play just one Test at a time and one day at a time and enjoy this."
The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer had a series to remember against Bangladesh, finishing with 11 scalps. He had also struck a critical century on Day 1 of the opening Test.
"It doesn't cross my head any more at all" - Ravichandran Ashwin on competing with Ravindra Jadeja
Ashwin also denied the notion that he will compete for a spot with Ravindra Jadeja during the upcoming Australia tour and that he will gladly step aside if needed. The off-spinner added:
"It's very simple for me. If he plays, I'll back him all day, all night. I have to. I have repeated this again and again. It doesn't cross my head any more at all (competing with Jadeja). If he is the one that has to play, he is the one that has to play, and I have complete faith, and I've got his back when he goes out there to play."
Team India will next take on New Zealand in a three-Test series, starting October 16.