R Ashwin, India's third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, responded to a fan's question on whether he will reach 800 Test wickets or not. He has currently picked up 427 wickets in 81 Test matches, and 8 more wickets will take him ahead of legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev.

Earlier this year, the Sri Lankan great Muttiah Muralitharan had said that Ashwin has the potential to break his record of 800 Test wickets. “Ashwin has a chance because he is a great bowler. Other than that, I don’t think any younger bowler coming in will go to 800. 

"Maybe Nathan Lyon is not good enough to reach it. He is close to 400 (now 404 wickets) but he has had to play many, many matches to get there,” Muralitharan had said, as quoted by Telegraph.

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Reacting to a fan's question, Ashwin thanked Muralitharan for believing in him and said 800 wickets is far from reach as of now. “Firstly, I thank Murali Anna (Muttiah Muralitharan) for such a statement. He has mentioned it to me as well a few times. 

"Once when I was injured he called me up and said listen, I too had a similar injury, so take care of yourself. If you don't take care of it immediately with full attention, you might find it recurring. So we've had a good connection; he is a really nice human being,” he said.

“So if he has said so, I am really thankful, but the goal of 800 is so far from reach. I know all of you have this hope that I do reach that mark, but it is too far. Let's try to take it one step at a time, one wicket at a time and that is how I am looking at things," he added.

Ashwin had a good year with two Player of the Series award at home. He picked up 32 wickets against England in the four-match series and then bagged 14 wickets in the two-match series against New Zealand. 

(With R Ashwin's YouTube channel inputs)