If I get to 618 Test wickets, I will retire but not break Anil Kumble's record: Ravichandran Ashwin

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

The Gulf News quoted Ashwin, as saying, "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 but that will be my last Test match."

He also had a few good words to say about Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner Rangana Herath. "He 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)," said Ashwin.

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 fro India in the one-day internationals was concerned, 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."

He said that selection matters he was not the person in charge or the one responsible for that decision. He said that every day is about being better than what you have been previously.

"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 the better than the best that I can be," he said.