Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who recently became India’s second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, said he never ran after numbers in his career and considers personal milestones as “just part of the journey and not final destination”.

Ashwin, who picked up 12 wickets at an average of 15.08 in the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, became India’s second highest wicket-taker in Test matches after he surpassed the legendary Kapil Dev’s tally of 434 wickets.

In doing so, he also became the eighth highest overall in the history of Test cricket with a tally of 442 scalps.

“The numbers are great, and it’s humbling really to see what I’ve been able to do in terms of the numbers. The more I’ve played, the more it felt like the numbers are a part of the journey rather than the destination,” Ashwin said in a release issued by his IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals.

“In the past 2-3 years especially, the feeling has been great, with series wins in Australia, comeback into the

T20 team, it almost feels like how I felt when I first broke into the team.”

The 35-year-old spinner, for whom Rajasthan Royals is his fifth IPL franchise, said the lucrative T20 tournament has helped him develop into a better cricketer from its onset.

“The IPL is a tough tournament, there are a lot of variables leading into every season. Dew, pitches, the opposition, you name it and there’s a variable that can impact a game in different ways and you’ve got to be ready at all times,” Ashwin said.

“However, for me, going into an IPL season is always exciting. The IPL gives a window of experimentation, something which has enabled me to come out a richer cricketer, irrespective of the results.”

The 2011 World Cup-winning side member also had words of praise for Royals skipper Sanju Samson. “I think Sanju has got an amazing attitude and a good head on

his shoulders. He’s always open for discussion, so that’s a great quality to have,” Ashwin signed off.