I compete with myself and don't go looking for records: R Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin has no qualms about missing the opportunity of equalling Australian Clarrie Grimmett's record of reaching 200 Test wickets in 36 matches, when the fourth and final Test match in Port of Spain was abandoned due to rain and poor drainage

Ravichandran Ashwin. Pic/PTI

Kanpur: Ravichandran Ashwin has no qualms about missing the opportunity of equalling Australian Clarrie Grimmett's record of reaching 200 Test wickets in 36 matches, when the fourth and final Test match in Port of Spain was abandoned due to rain and poor drainage.

He reached that milestone in his 37th Test at Green Park here yesterday, becoming the second fastest ahead of Dennis Lillee and Waqar Younis, both achieving it in 38 games.
"Grimmett must have been better person than I," Ashwin said when he was asked if he was disappointed at not equaling the mark in West Indies.

He added: "I am happy trying to compete with myself. When I say that, it might sound clichéd, but I always say I constantly compete with myself and not look for records."

'Getting Kane was special'
Talking about his five-year journey since his debut in 2011, the wily off-spinner said he has created many cherishable memories for himself.

"Definitely the 200th one is very special so far. Kane Williamson is not a bad scalp. There have been quite a few good wickets I had over a period of time. Williamson getting out in this Test in first innings was a very good ball. "Getting AB de Villiers in Nagpur (2015), that was very well set up.

Special memories
Then, Kumar Sangakkara in Lanka... these are some special memories I cherish in my career. I hope I create more and more in the future," he said.

Asked if he felt he could have done it quicker as he has missed a good amount of cricket in the past, Ashwin said: "It had to be that way. There are a lot of good memories I have created in the last five to six years. To look back and feel sorry about a few things is not the right way to go about my career. I am very happy," he said.

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