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In an emotional statement, one of India’s finest and most decorated cricketers, Ravichandran Ashwin, has announced his retirement from international cricket. His retirement comes after the third match of the ongoing Test series between India and Australia in Brisbane. The day-night Test played in Adelaide marked his final appearance in international cricket. Ashwin is scheduled to return to India on Thursday, marking the end of an illustrious career on the global stage.
Ashwin announced his retirement alongside Rohit Sharma in a press conference
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Appearing alongside Indian captain Rohit Sharma at a press conference, Ashwin has also expressed his feelings and thanksgiving words. “This is my last day playing as an international cricketer,” he said. “While I feel I still have a few months of cricket left in me, I have decided to pursue the remainder of my career in club cricket.
I have made countless memories with Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya, Pujara, and all my teammates over the years,” he said in a statement laced with appreciation for his teammates, coaches, and the cricketing community at large. He also took a moment to thank the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), his fellow players, and the Australian team, with whom he has enjoyed many challenging and memorable encounters. Ashwin’s retirement is not just a personal decision but also marks the end of an era for Indian cricket.
International record in Test cricket
With 537 wickets in 106 Test matches, Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket for India, behind none other than the legendary Anil Kumble. Ashwin over time has earned himself the tag of being one of the world’s best off-spinners. His bowling has been instrumental, particularly in the longest version of the game, in keeping India’s winning momentum going on their home turf.
In fact, Ashwin’s contribution to India’s winning several Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, especially against Australia, will be etched in the minds of cricket fans around the globe. Even though he faced severe criticism for his performance in the recently concluded Test series against New Zealand, where he took only nine wickets in three Tests at an average of 41.2, his entire career is one of enormous success.
His adaptability to different conditions and performance for India has been the hallmark of his success. Ashwin was also part of the Indian squad during the 2011 World Cup, which gave the team a memorable victory. Notably, Ashwin is one of the few players to achieve the remarkable double of 300 wickets and 3,000 runs in Test cricket. With a tally of 3,503 Test runs, including six centuries and 14 half-centuries, Ashwin is recognized as one of the world’s premier all-rounders.
He is only the 11th player in history to reach this milestone, underlining his dual skill set as both a bowler and a batsman. Moreover, Ashwin’s 11 Player of the Series awards are the most by any player, equaling the record set by the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan. Though appearances for India in overseas tours have not been frequent for Ashwin lately, the importance of the man for India’s home Test series is priceless.
The next home series scheduled for India is next November and a summer tour to England beckons. So, this retirement of Ashwin marks the closure of a chapter of Indian cricket. Looking back at his career, Ashwin’s contributions to ODI and T20I cricket are also worth highlighting.
In One Day Internationals, he took 156 wickets in 116 matches at an average of 33, with a remarkable economy rate of 4.93.
His best ODI performance was a memorable 4/25. In T20I cricket, Ashwin took 72 wickets in 65 matches, with an economy rate of 6.90 and an average of 23. His best performance in T20I cricket is 4/8. Ashwin’s retirement is the end of an era for Indian cricket, but his legacy will live on through the many records he has set, the memories he has created, and the inspiration he continues to provide to aspiring cricketers. As he steps away from the international scene, he leaves behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
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