India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who is having a great time in the ongoing Test series against England, termed himself an accidental cricketer on Friday (February 26).
During the Day-Night Test against England, Ashwin became only the fourth Indian bowler after Kapil Dev (434), Anil Kumble (619) and Harbhajan Singh (417) to claim 400 wickets in the longest format.
Featuring in his 77th Test match, Ashwin is also the fastest to achieve this milestone among Indians while he is the second-fastest ever after Muttiah Muralitharan, who accomplished the feat in his 72nd Test.
“I accidentally became a cricketer. I am actually a cricket lover who went on to become a cricketer. I am living my dream here, I never imagined that I will wear the Indian jersey one day and I will play,” Ashwin told bcci.tv in an interview.
The 34-year-old further said that being in the COVID-19 lockdown made him realise just how lucky he was to represent the country.
“And every time I finish playing a game and if I give that winning result for the team, I just feel I am being given a blessing, but the COVID times made me feel how lucky I am to actually play for India.
“Even when I came back after the IPL, I never thought I will play in Australia, so that is what I said, everything has been a gift, for the love with which I play the game, the game is giving me back enough and more laurels,” he added.
During India’s 10-wicket victory in the pink ball Test, Ashwin picked up 7 wickets to take his overall tally to 401.
Ashwin said he watched a lot of old videos of great individual performances in the lockdown which helped improve his understanding of the game.
“I used to watch a lot of footage even before, but the understanding of the game has gone one notch higher…during the lockdown, I was watching a lot of cricket from the past, especially Sachin’s hundred in Chepauk, all sort of stuff on YouTube.”
Ashwin breached the 400 Test scalps mark by dismissing Jofra Archer in England’s second innings.
“Initial feeling is quite empty to be honest, because we were under immense pressure…for me I was actually in the moment, only after he (Archer) had taken the DRS, I realised the 400th that happened,” he said.
“…after they flashed 400 Test wickets on the board, the entire stadium was up, everybody was clapping, I don’t know, I cannot put a finger and say how I feel about it, the last three months have been a complete fairy-tale,” he concluded.
