Bowled medium pace in younger days to become next Kapil Dev: R Ashwin

Ace India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin stormed the headlines in the first Test match against Sri Lanka in Mohali recently by becoming the country’s second-highest wicket-taker in the long format. The 35-year-old went past the legendary Kapil Dev’s Test tally of 434 wickets when he dismissed Charith Asalanka of the visiting team in the second innings on Sunday, March 6. Ashwin said after achieving the feat that he wanted to become a better and bowled medium pacer in his younger days to become another Kapil Dev.

Speaking about his feat of eclipsing Dev on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, “Feeling so humbled. 28 years ago, I was cheering for Kapil Paaji along with my dad when he went past Richard Hadlee’s record.

“Even in my wildest dream, I never thought of going past his tally of wickets because I always wanted to be a batsman especially when I started off as an eight-year-old.

“In 1994, batting was my fascination. Sachin Tendulkar was just emerging into the scene and Kapil Dev, himself was a terrific striker of the ball,” the Tamil Nadu cricketer said. He also added that he used to bowl medium pacer those days on the advice of his father so that he could become the next Kapil Dev.

“In fact, I used to bowl medium pace on my dad’s advice back then so that I can try to be the next Kapil Paaji. From then to become an off-spinner and to represent India for so many years… I never thought I will play for India,” Ashwin, who reached 436 wickets in just 85 Tests as against Dev who had 434 in 131, said.

Dev also got his record-breaking 432nd wicket in Tests to go past Hadlee’s tally of 431 against Sri Lanka in a Test match in Ahmedabad.

Ashwin now set to go past Dale Steyn

Ashwin is overall the fourth Indian bowler to take more than 400 Test wickets after Kumble (619), Dev and Harbhajan Singh (417) and worldwide, he is the ninth highest wicket-taker in Tests who is just a few short of going past former South Africa pacer Dale Steyn (439) to become the eighth.

India will be looking up to Ashwin for more in the second Test against the islanders starting in Bengaluru on March 12.