R Ashwin not eyeing Anil Kumble's record after scaling Mount 500 in Rajkot

R Ashwin (Pic: AFP)

R Ashwin on Friday became the second Indian to scalp 500 Test wickets, but is far from being interested in chasing former captain and coach Anil Kumble's national record of 619 scalps.

Ashwin dismissed England opener Zak Crawley in the final session on day two of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test and became only the ninth bowler to scale 'Mount 500' in Test history. The 37-year-old said he has no particular aim of pushing for more and try and get to Kumble's record.

"The very simple answer is 'no'. 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 told the media here after stumps on the second day. "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. Why change anything that's working for you?" he added.

Recalling his journey on one of the most memorable days of his career, Ashwin said he could only look back and say 'not a bad achievement'.

"It's been a very long journey. I don't exactly know where to begin because I was an accidental spinner. I wanted to be a batter all along. Life gave me a chance. When I walked into the CSK dressing room, Muttiah Muralitharan didn't want to bowl (with) the new ball and eventually I got tossed the new ball. I had a reasonable first-class (cricket) start to my life. (The) first-class career was pretty good. But nevertheless, the stage in the IPL made me made me visible to a lot of people and I eventually got my Test debut. People doubted me whether I could be a Test bowler and 10-13 years later¿ not bad, not a bad achievement. I'm pretty glad."

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Ashwin did not appear being one for big celebrations given his focus on the ongoing IND vs ENG 3rd Test.

"It's in a very innocuously placed time, the Test match, (the) second day, I think it's hanging in the balance. It's a good time to celebrate, probably go have dinner and then think about it (and) how far I've come in life," Ashwin added.

With Nathan Lyon also having completed his 500 Test wickets last December, Ashwin revealed getting congratulated by the Australian wicketkeeper.

"Nathan and I, to a large extent, have been very synonymous in our cricketing careers. We made (our) debut around the similar times," he said.

Ashwin said he has fought a battle of perception for a long time in his career but recent years have helped him be at ease.

"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. I can't keep proving everybody wrong and I can't prove everybody right. I'm glad that somebody is happy and somebody is not," he 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 in my life ever again," he said.

(With agency inputs)