Ravichandran Ashwin may not be turning out for India in the one day internationals at this point in time, but the off-spinner is only too keen to better his craft in the hope of snaring 618 Test wickets

“I am a big fan of Anil Kumble and he has got 619 wickets. If I get to 618 wickets, I will be very thankful too and, and if I get to 618, that will be my last Test match,” said Ravichandran Ashwin to the Gulf News.

He also had a few good words to say about Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

“Rangana Herath is one of my role models. I think he is a fabulous bowler. He just overcomes limitations every single day. Age does wear the body out over a period of time.

“As far as Herath is concerned, he just keeps proving that he is a champion cricketer and he can use pressure to his good advantage. That is exactly what he did on the final day of the first Test (against Pakistan).” Ashwin added.

Ravichandran Ashwin has so far taken 292 Test scalps at an average of 25.26 and with a strike rate of 52.4. He has also bagged 150 one-day wickets at 32.91.

As far as his non-selection for India in the one-day internationals, Ashwin said, “I don’t have an answer to that because resting [a player] and making decisions are definitely not something that I can comment on.”

Ashwin also added that he is concentrating on improving on a daily basis.

“I am definitely focused on developing every single day and becoming a better cricketer because that is the only thing that will last.

“Tomorrow, if I am given an opportunity, I should be the best I can be and probably even better than the best that I can be,” he said.