The Story
India premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin reached the milestone of 50 Test matches in the just concluded first Test against hosts Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. His effort were recognised by the officials who presented him with a plaque in the post match presentation ceremony acknowledge the landmark.
The off-spinner has been a record breaking cricketer in the longest format and has led the spin bowling department with a great amount of success in the last six years since making his Test debut in 2011 under the captaincy of MS Dhoni.
So far in his career, he has already claimed 279 wickets with an average of 25.39. His stats is the best for any Indian spinner after 50th Test mark. Except for a few series, most of which were overseas, Ashwin has rarely failed and has looked on wicket taking spree usually.
Don’t have specific goals
Ashwin claimed 3/65 runs to help India bundle out Sri Lanka for just 245 runs second innings and script a massive 304 runs inside four days. Speaking after the performance, the Tamil Nadu star asserted that he never plays with records as his priority.
“For me, it’s always team first. I don’t have any specific goals at all. I don’t have any numbers in front of my eyes to achieve. I just want to give my best for the country and in the process I know I can achieve something for myself as well,” Ashwin said at the end of the first Test against Sri Lanka.
He says that his dream has always been to contribute to Indian cricket in the most illustrious way.
“Since my childhood days when I dreamt of playing for India I had one goal and that is to take Indian cricket to greater heights.”
Team India will now travel to Sinhalese Sports Clubs Ground, Colombo.