Ace Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket in all formats after the third Test in Brisbane against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended in a draw on Wednesday.
"This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats in the international level," Ashwin told reporters at the Gabba after the match, in a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma. "I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to showcase that in club level cricket," the 38-year-old said.
He did not take any questions and left after making the announcement.
Ashwin is the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 wickets in 106 games—only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). That he has six Test centuries—same as Mahendra Singh Dhoni—to his name, speaks volumes about his all-round abilities.
Ashwin also played 116 ODIs and 65 Twenty20 Internationals.
His announcement in the middle of the Test series against Australia may have come as a suprise to many, but skipper Rohit Sharma said the off-spinner was “very, very sure of his decision”.
“We should stand by what he wants," Sharma said after Ashwin left the post-match press conference.
Rain plays spoilsport again
Persistent rain ruined what could have been an interesting final day in the third Test in Brisbane. With Australian top-order crumbling in the second innings while trying to go for quick runs, India were set an unlikely target of 275 with a little over 50 overs to go.
But the visitors could only reach 8/0 when the showers started. With no respite in sight, play was abandoned.
Resuming the day at 252/9, India were all out for 260 in their first innings. In reply, Jasprit Bumrah (3/18), Mohammed Siraj (2/36) and Akash Deep (2/28) rocked the Australian batter, as they declared at 89/7.
The series is tied 1-1, with the next Test to be played in Melbourne on Boxing Day.