India and England are set to square off in the fifth and final Test match in Dharamsala from March 7. While the hosts have already taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, both teams still have a lot to play for as the valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points are at stake.

The Dharamsala Test will also mark veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s 100th appearance in the longest format of the game.

Ahead of his landmark game, Ashwin said it was the journey rather than the destination that meant more to him.

“It’s a big occasion, from the look and sound of it,” Ashwin said at the press conference ahead of the match. “More than destination, journey has been special.”

The off-spinner is set to join an elite list of 13 Indian cricketers who have achieved the feat of playing 100 Tests for the country.

“100th Test matters a lot to me, but it matters more to my father, mother, wife and even my kids. My kids are more excited about the Test. Families go through a lot during a player’s journey. My father still answers 40 calls on what his son did during a game,” he added.

Talking about the cold playing conditions in Dharamsala, Ashwin said: “21 years ago I was here playing u19 cricket for two months. It is pretty cold, will take more time for fingers to adjust.”

“That’s the beauty of it, the unknown,” he further stated.

Ashwin played a key role in India’s series-clinching five-wicket victory over England in the fourth Test match in Ranchi.

After India conceded a lead of 46 runs in the first innings, Ashwin produced a remarkable spell to bring the hosts back into the contest.

The off-spinner returned with a five-wicket haul (5/51), his 35th in Test cricket, as India bundled out England for a paltry 145 to set themselves a target of 192 runs.

During the Ranchi Test, Ashwin became only the ninth bowler overall and only the second Indian after the legendary Anil Kumble to achieve the milestone of 500 Test wickets.

(With inputs from Agencies)