Just as Anil Kumble wasn’t a leg-spinner early in his career, Ravichandran Ashwin too was an aspiring opening batsman before off-spin happened to him.

Ashwin calls himself an “accidental spinner”, but his achievements have hardly been an accident. Consistent and relentless since his Test debut back in November 2011, getting to 500 wickets in the longest format is a well-deserved accomplishment for Ashwin.

Agonisingly stuck at 499 in the Visakhapatnam Test, wicket No. 500 finally arrived for the 37-year-old on Day II of this third Test when he pitched it full and had England opener Zak Crawley caught at short fine-leg.

It is a special feat — only Kumble (619) is ahead of him among India’s highest wicket-takers in Test cricket.

Given his dominance in home conditions — 347 wickets so far from only 59 games — Ashwin ought to have been one of the brightest stars in India’s cricket sky. But though his skills are respected, he doesn’t really enjoy the stardom he deserves.

“He overthinks, he tries too many things which can lead to over-complicating matters” — that’s what critics say.

“I’ve listened to all what he (Ashwin) has said,” said former England off-spinner Graeme Swann, who’s here as a commentator in the ongoing Test. “He almost has gone beyond the level of everyone else. He breaks it all down... Why it happens, how you should approach things and stuff like that. He’s very scientific and forensic about it.

“Let me tell you, that’s not easy to do as it’s very time-consuming. That’s why I say he’s a professor of spin bowling as he’s happy to do it.

“Keeping the curiosity going would be difficult for most people, but not Ashwin. His character almost demands he has to do that. He’s a student of the game and he openly professes that. His strength is he always needs to re-learn, re-develop and try out new things,” Swann pointed out.

Ashwin’s “ineffectiveness” overseas has also been a topic of debate. His numbers in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia) countries are not great. While Kumble finished with 141 scalps from 35 Test appearances in SENA countries, Ashwin, so far, has 67 wickets from 24 Tests in these four nations.

But is that all to judge Ashwin?

“You shouldn’t be judged by how many wickets you get on away tours. You should be judged when you are the match-winner and how often you get your team to win.
Ashwin has done that time and time again,” Swann summed it up.