Ravichandran Ashwin's decision to retire from international cricket may have shocked his fans and cricket buffs alike, but the writing was already on the wall, especially in the recent months.
After the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane ended in a draw yesterday, the 38-year-old joined skipper Rohit Sharma in the post-match press conference and made the announcement. He returned to Chennai today.
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His sudden exit triggered a sense of deja vu, as former Indian skippers Anil Kumble (2008) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (2014), too, had retired from Tests midway through a series against the Aussies.
India's shocking 0-3 loss to New Zealand at home
Retirement was on Ashwin's mind ever since India lost the home series to New Zealand earlier this year. The veteran off-spinner could only take nine wickets in three matches, of which two were played on spin-friendly pitches in Pune and Mumbai.
Young all-rounder Washington Sundar, in comparison, emerged as the joint-highest wicket-taker for India in the series—Ravindra Jadeja, too, took 16 wickets—though he played only two matches.
Gambhir's decision to drop Ashwin the final straw?
Ashwin, according to PTI, had made it clear to the team management that he would not travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series if he was not assured of a place in the playing XI. He was part of the squad, but was rested for the opening Test in Perth, in which Jasprit Bumrah captained the side in place of Rohit Sharma, who missed it due to the birth of his child. Coach Gautam Gambhir's call to play Sundar instead of Ashwin, and his continued backing for the 25-year-old, reportedly, hastened the veteran spinner's decision to call it quits.
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Sharma, upon his return to the squad, convinced Ashwin to play the day-night Test in Adelaide, but he was benched again in the third Test in Brisbane, where Jadeja was drafted into the team.
The privilege of seeing you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern cricket is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world! I know that generations of bowlers to come will say that I became a bowler coz of Ashwin! U will be missed brother! ❤️ @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/fuATAjE8aw
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) December 18, 2024
With no guarantee of a place in the playing XI for the next two Tests to be played in Melbourne and Sydney, Ashwin finally decided that it was time. "If I am not needed right now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the game," he, reportedly, told Sharma, before bringing down the curtains on a 14-year career.
India's next assignment is in England, from June to August, where three spinners are unlikely to part of the squad. With Jadeja and Sundar ahead of him in the pecking order and India's next home Test series being in October-November, Ashwin seems to have read the writing on the wall.
