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Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin became only the second Indian after the legendary Anil Kumble to take 500 Test wickets. Ashwin dismissed England opener Zak Crawley on Day 2 of the ongoing third Test in Rajkot on Friday. Ashwin is not only the fastest Indian to the milestone, but also the second fastest in the overall list in terms of matches, only behind Muttiah Muralitharan, who achieved the feat in his 87th Test. Ashwin, on the other hand, was playing his 98th Test before he pulled out of the squad, flying to Chennai to attend his ill mother.
After stumps on Day 2, Ashwin, with Kumble in company, dedicated his 500th Test wicket to his father, Ravichandran.
“It’s been quite a long journey. Firstly I’d like to dedicate this feat to my father. He’s been with me through thick and thin, probably had a heart-attack every time he’s watched me play. His health has probably gone for a toss because of that,” Ashwin had told the broadcasters.
However, Ashwin’s father, Ravichandran, has now revealed that it was the cricketer’s mother, Chitra, who first suggested that the newest entrant to the 500-test-wicket-club should bowl spin. According to Ravichandran, the decision proved to be a “turning point” for Ashwin’s career.
“The biggest turning point in Ashwin’s career was when he switched to bowling off-spin. And I must thank my wife Chitra for that decision. Those days Ashwin had wheezing and he also had an issue with his knee. So to do all the running (he started off as a medium pacer) was proving to be a challenge. It was Chitra who said, ‘why should you run so much. Just take a few steps and bowl spin’,” Ravichandran wrote in his column for the Indian Express.
Ravichandran also revealed that his son won’t be as ecstatic as other might think after becoming only the ninth bowler to take 500 Test wickets.
“Speaking to him, I don’t get the feeling that 500 wickets meant the world to him. Of course, it is a huge milestone, but it isn’t everything. It is an achievement yes, but it is not a number that overly excites him,” Ravichandran further revealed.
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