Bengaluru: India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin turned 33 today (September 17). Ashwin will next month be seen in action against South Africa in the three-Test home series for the Gandhi-Mandela Trophy.

Ashwin was born on September 17, 1986 in Madras (now Chennai). The spinner was born one day before the famous India-Australia tied Test in Madras in 1986.

Also read: Ashwin to play for Delhi Capitals?

In the recently concluded India-West Indies Test rubber which the Virat Kohli-led made a 2-0 clean sweep, Ashwin was not preferred in both the Tests. Ravindra Jadeja played. However, Ashwin will be key to India’s chances at home when they face Proteas from October 2.

"It's the control we can bank on with Jadeja. He has probably been our most consistent and most accurate bowler away from India, and there is a reason why he is constantly playing in the eleven, because he gives you control even when the wicket is not supporting his bowling,” Kohli had explained why India picked Jadeja over Ashwin in the West Indies.

Also read: India vs South Africa 2019 series schedule, squads, live streaming information

So far, Ashwin has played 65 Tests, 111 ODIs and 46 T20Is. He made his international debut in 2010. He has taken 342 Test, 150 ODI and 52 T20I wickets. He is the fastest to 300 Test wickets. Also, he has scored four Test hundreds. He was part of the India’s 2011 World Cup winning squad. Currently he is not in the limited-overs teams.

Ashwin won the ICC Cricketer of the Year (Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy) and Test Cricketer of the Year awards in December 2016.

In the Indian Premier League (IPL), Ashwin led Kings XI Punjab (KXIP). Recently, there were reports that Delhi Capitals (DC) might pick him with an all-cash deal. He was bought by KXIP for Rs 7.6 crore. Previously, he had played for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS).

The official Twitter handle of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) wished Ashwin a very happy birthday with a video clip of his 100th, 200th and 300th Test wickets.

“Test wicket No. 100 ✅    Test wicket No. 200 ✅   Test wicket No. 300 ✅   Happy Birthday @ashwinravi99 🎉🎉 #TeamIndia,” the Indian cricket board tweeted on Tuesday morning.

Ashwin’s fans too took to social media to wish their favourite cricketer. MyNation too joins them to wish Ashwin a very happy birthday.