R Ashwin on becoming India's 3rd leading Test wicket-taker: Feels absolutely nothing at all

Ravichandran Ashwin

"Feels absolutely nothing at all." With these words off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Monday played down his milestone of becoming India's third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

Ashwin dismissed Tom Latham to claim his 418th Test wicket and go past Harbhajan Singh on the fifth and final day of the opening Test against New Zealand here. He is now only behind Anil Kumble and Kapil Dev in the overall standings. After India could not close out the game against New Zealand, Ashwin was asked what the milestone made him feel.

‘It's wonderful'

"Absolutely nothing at all. These are milestones that are constantly kept on tab, it's wonderful. Ever since Rahul bhai has taken over, he's kept saying how many wickets you take, how many runs you make in 10 years' time, you won't remember them," Ashwin said. "It's the memories that matter, so I want to have some special memories going forward in the next 3-4 years," he added after the drawn game.

Meanwhile, India coach Rahul Dravid drew attention to the manner in which Ravichandran Ashwin has "grown" and "evolved" into a champion off-spinner, who has now become the country's third highest wicket-taker in Tests.

He's phenomenal: Dravid

"It's a phenomenal achievement. Harbhajan Singh was a really fine bowler, someone I played a lot with; terrific bowler for India and what Ashwin has done, to be able to go past him in just 80 Test matches is a phenomenal achievement," Dravid said at the post-match media conference.

Tweet talk
Harbhajan Singh@harbhajan_singh: Congratulations @ashwinravi99 wish you many more brother.. God bless. keep shining.

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