R Ashwin Announces: Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. The announcement came at the conclusion of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, which ended in a rain-affected draw.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer at the international level across all formats. I believe there’s still some punch left in me, but I’d like to showcase that at the club level. This, however, will be the last day at this level. It has been a journey full of fun,” Ashwin said during the post-match press conference.
He reflected on his career, saying, “I’ve created many memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates, even though I’ve lost some of them over the years. We’re the last batch of ‘OGs’ left in the dressing room, and I’ll mark this day as the end of my time at this level.”
Ashwin retires with an impressive record of
537 wickets
at an average of
24 in 106 Tests,
making him India’s second-leading wicket-taker after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He also scored six centuries and 14 half-centuries in Tests. His last international appearance was in the day-night Test in Adelaide, where he claimed figures of 1-53.
The retirement announcement seemed imminent when TV cameras showed an emotional Ashwin being embraced by Virat Kohli during a rain delay in the match. Apart from his Test career, Ashwin played 116 One Day Internationals, taking 156 wickets, and was part of India’s victorious 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy teams. He also featured in 65 T20Is, claiming 72 wickets.
Ashwin thanked several key figures in his career, including the BCCI, coaches, and teammates, specifically naming Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara for their contributions. He also expressed gratitude to the Australian cricket team, acknowledging their fierce competition over the years.
A key figure in India’s dominance in home Tests, Ashwin played a pivotal role in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy victory in Australia. He is one of only 11 all-rounders to achieve the double of 3,000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests and holds the record for the most Player-of-the-Series awards in Test cricket, tied with Muttiah Muralitharan at 11.
“It’s an emotional moment, and I don’t think I’m in the right frame of mind to answer questions properly. Please excuse me for that,” Ashwin said. “Thank you to the journalists who’ve supported me, even those who’ve written harsh things—our relationship will last forever. I hope the next generation of cricketers receives the same love.”
In his final words, Ashwin concluded, “As a cricketer, this is the end of the road for me, but I may still stay involved with the game. This game has given me everything, and I’m thankful for it. See you soon.”
