Ravichandran Ashwin sits at No. 1 position in the ICC Test bowlers rankings at present times, and he will be a key player for the Indian team in the upcoming five Tests at home (two vs Bangladesh, three against New Zealand). The 37-year-old off-spinner from Chennai, who has 516 wickets to his name in 100 Tests played so far, is India’s second-highest wicket-taker in the five-day format of the game, and many believe that by the time he calls time on his career, he will surpass Anil Kumble’s tally of 619 Test wickets and become India’s most successful bowler.
But according to Ashwin, he has not set any targets for him and just wants to enjoy his cricket. The 2016 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year feels that the day he will feel that I don’t want to improve, he will leave and somebody else will come in his place and do well.
“There is nothing like that in my mind. I am only thinking about one day at a time because when you get older, you have to put in extra effort every single day. It’s not the same. I have put in a lot of effort in the last 3-4 years. I haven’t decided (retirement), but the day I feel that today I don’t want to improve, I will leave. That’s all," Ashwin said during a conversation with Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel when asked if one can expect him to play till 40.
“Kuch target nahi hai (I have not set any target for myself). Anil (Kumble) Bhai wants me to break his record (of 619 wickets). He is a good human; I have worked with him, but I am not keeping any targets. I have been very happy living by the day, and I have totally enjoyed my cricket. I am saying this because it’s a new lease of life. I know what I went through from 2018 to 2020. So, I know how my life changed after that and how I am playing cricket. I just want to hold on to this; I don’t want to lose my love for the game for anything. That could be a target or anything. The moment I feel I am losing the joy of my life by having to do more and I am not ready for it, I will leave."
“We all play, and we all have to leave. Somebody else will come and do well. It’s Indian cricket," he added.
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