Ashwin reveals one person he falls back on during failures, talks about 'his biggest pain' ahead of 100th Test

Ravichandran Ashwin goes back to no one but himself when things don't go his way, the veteran off-spinner has revealed ahead of his landmark 100th Test match from Thursday, March 7 in Dharamsala.

In an interview with Anil Kumble, India's leading wicket-taker in Test cricket, Ashwin called cricket a 'self-thought' sport before adding that he introspects and works out his game plans to bring the best out of himself.

The 37-year-old off-spinner recently became the second Indian and ninth bowler overall to complete 500 Test wickets. The Tamil Nadu tweaker received congratulatory messages from across the world. However, Ashwin himself has mentioned that his "biggest pain" in his career has been not enjoying his feats.

"I go back to one person and it’s very stressful for that person, and that’s me. Because I think cricket is one of the greatest self-thought sports, Anil bhai. And if you’re ruthless and very critical about yourself, I think it will give you the truth, staring at your face," Ashwin told Anil Kumble in JioCinema show titled Spin Maestros ft. Ashwin.

"There are enough and more critics in India who will tell you, 10 of them will tell you the wrong things, but they’re definitely critical. But 10 of them will also tell you the right things. So, like I always maintain, my biggest pain has been the fact that I don’t enjoy my success as much as I should have. But, that has also helped me become a better cricketer.

"I have constantly looked for things to improve and I have made sure that I am very uncomfortable with who I am on a particular day. And then I get back to the drawing board and focus on what else can I do to bring more to the table. For example, Steven Smith has got a hundred against me, how do I nab him, or Joe Root has made a hundred, how do I nab him. So constantly that thought initiates a new action and eventually it has worked for me over the years, so I am comfortably seated there," he added.

In the ongoing five-Test series, Ashwin has picked 17 wickets in four matches at an average of 30.41. Overall, he has picked 507 wickets at an average of 23.91 in 99 Test matches.