Veteran all-rounder and spin wizard of Indian cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin, has shocked the entire cricketing world by sudden retirement from international cricket, leaving fans stunned.
This 37-year-old sportsman, known for remarkable skills and contributions to the game of Indian cricket, made this shocking announcement in the aftermath of the Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It led to reactions from all corners of the world, including an emotional message from India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
Ashwin’s Retirement Shocked Fans
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It is quite shocking for the cricket community as well as his fans, that Ashwin decided to call time on his international cricketing career after India’s Test match against Australia at the iconic Gabba. Though Ashwin has a remarkable career spanning more than a decade, this retirement was unexpected because Ashwin has been a pillar of Indian bowling for a long.
Ashwin’s decision to retire caught everyone off guard, and it came at a time when many were anticipating more contributions from him, particularly in the upcoming matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. His sudden exit from the international arena left a sense of disbelief, especially since he had not played in all the matches of India’s tour of Australia. His retirement came without the fanfare of a farewell match, making it all the more poignant for his supporters.
PM Modi Pays Tribute to Ashwin’s Legendary Career
Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to social media to congratulate Ashwin on his illustrious career. Expressing his admiration for Ashwin’s journey, Modi wrote an emotional message acknowledging the impact the spinner had on Indian cricket.
In his message, the PM said, *”Your announcement of retirement from international cricket surprised fans in India and around the world. At a time when everyone was waiting for many off-breaks, you bowled a carrom ball that bowled everyone out”.* With this line Modi cleverly referred to how Ashwin was unpredictable; he often amazed the audiences with his skillful bowling deliveries, including the signature carrom ball.
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The Prime Minister also admitted it to be a tough move for Ashwin to give up on, especially after such an ornamented career. Continuing with this, *”The decision to retire wouldn’t have been easy at all for you, after all, such a great career. My heartiest congratulations coming in from my side. For such a great career. You have always remained full of talent, with immense hard work, putting the team above everything.
Modi also stated that Ashwin’s absence from international cricket would be deeply felt especially his iconic jersey number 99, which will be synonymous with his presence on the field. “When you are saying goodbye to international cricket, jersey number 99 will be missed a lot,”* he added.
Ashwin’s Remarkable Career
Ravichandran Ashwin is retiring. His glittering career comes to an end, and it is based on solid performances and unmatched skill over the years. Ashwin has, without a doubt, proven himself to be one of India’s all-time best spinners in history, and his records speak for themselves. Ashwin played 106 Test matches, 116 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and 65 T20 Internationals for India.
In Test cricket, he has taken 537 wickets, making him one of the top wicket-takers in the format. His performances have fetched him numerous accolades and have made him one of the most successful off-spinners in the history of the game. In ODIs, Ashwin has claimed 156 wickets, while in T20 Internationals, he has taken 72 wickets. These numbers are testimony to his all-round ability and his contribution to India’s success across formats.
All is being said of he by his excellent career, he played his last match on the tour of Australia at just one Test match in the last series. Hereby he was not seen with an official farewell which has been expected through the career of such a stature player. However, his legacy remains in Indian Cricket and this will never be forgotten through the game he took for everyone.
Ashwin’s retirement signifies the end of an era for Indian cricket. He was not just a bowler but also an influential figure in Indian cricket’s evolution, especially with his ability to break partnerships and bowl at critical moments. His contributions with the bat, too, were notable, making him a valuable asset for the team across formats.
He leaves behind a chasm in the Indian cricket team with the announcement of his retirement, but one thing is for sure-Ashwin’s legacy shall live on in the pages of cricketing history for years to come. One can talk about his different style of bowling or his leadership qualities, but above all, he wanted his team to win over individualistic success.
As he takes his final farewell from international cricket, it is an inspiring story about dedication, talent, and passion for the game. Fans, cricket experts, and players will continue celebrating his contributions to the game, and his legacy will inspire generations of cricketers in the future.
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