R Ashwin not eyeing Anil Kumble's record after scaling Mount 500 in Rajkot

R Ashwin on Friday became the second Indian to scalp 500 Test wickets but is far from being interested in chasing former captain and coach Anil Kumbles national record of 619 scalpsAshwin dismissed England opener Zak Crawley in the final session on day two of the IND vs ENG 3rd Test and became only the ninth bowler to scale Mount 500 in Test history The 37yearold said he has no particular aim of pushing for more and try and get to Kumbles recordThe very simple answer is no Every day is what I want to live for and Im 37 years old I dont know whats in store next Ashwin told the media here after stumps on the second day Whats in store for the next two months You play this series and then what lies ahead you really dont know I dont want to really jump the gun Ive kept it this way for the last 45 years and its been very simple and its worked for me Why change anything thats working for you he addedRecalling his journey on one of the most memorable days of his career Ashwin said he could only look back and say not a bad achievementIts been a very long journey I dont exactly know where to begin because I was an accidental spinner I wanted to be a batter all along Life gave me a chance When I walked into the CSK dressing room Muttiah Muralitharan didnt want to bowl with the new ball and eventually I got tossed the new ball I had a reasonable firstclass cricket start to my life The firstclass career was pretty good But nevertheless the stage in the IPL made me made me visible to a lot of people and I eventually got my Test debut People doubted me whether I could be a Test bowler and 1013 years lateriquest not bad not a bad achievement Im pretty gladAlso ReadlsquoLight at the end of the tunnelrsquoAshwin did not appear being one for big celebrations given his focus on the ongoing IND vs ENG 3rd TestIts in a very innocuously placed time the Test match the second day I think its hanging in the balance Its a good time to celebrate probably go have dinner and then think about it and how far Ive come in life Ashwin addedWith Nathan Lyon also having completed his 500 Test wickets last December Ashwin revealed getting congratulated by the Australian wicketkeeperNathan and I to a large extent have been very synonymous in our cricketing careers We made our debut around the similar times he saidAshwin said he has fought a battle of perception for a long time in his career but recent years have helped him be at easeIve always fought a level of perception in my life about what people think of me But definitely in the last 56 years Ive actually not cared about it I cant keep proving everybody wrong and I cant prove everybody right Im glad that somebody is happy and somebody is not he saidBut I need to be happy Im in a really really good space in my life and I want this to continue I dont want to let go of the love for the game At one point in my life I was in a really dark space I didnt want to watch the game and thats not where I want to go in my life ever again he saidWith agency inputs