Finance
Ravichandran Ashwin, a veteran offspinner, has declared his retirement from international cricket effective immediately. Ashwin announced his decision following the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, which ended in a tie due to rain.
“This will be my final day as an Indian player in all formats on the international stage. I believe I still have some punch in me as a cricketer, but I’d like to uncover and possibly display that in club cricket, but this is the last day. I had a lot of fun.
“I must say I’ve created a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates, even though I’ve lost some of them over the last few years. We are the last bunch of OGs, if you can say that, left out of the dressing room. I’d be marking this as my date of having played at this level,” said Ashwin in the post-match press conference.
Ashwin finishes his career with 537 wickets at an average of 24 in 106 Tests, making him India’s second highest wicket-taker behind renowned leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He has hit six Test hundreds and 14 fifties with the bat. His final international game was the day-night Test in Adelaide, when he scored 1-53.
His retirement announcement appeared close when television footage showed an emotional Ashwin being hugged by Virat Kohli on the dressing room balcony during the rain delay. Ashwin also played 116 One-Day Internationals for India, taking 156 wickets and was part of the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning squads.
Ashwin also played 65 T20Is and collected 72 wickets. “Clearly, there are many people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI and fellow teammates, several of them. I want to name a few of them.
“All the coaches who’ve been a part of the journey, most importantly, Rohit, Virat (Kohli), Ajinkya (Rahane), (Cheteshwar) Pujara, who’ve taken those spending catches around the back to give me the number of wickets I’ve managed to get over the years. Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who’ve been very fierce competitors. I’ve enjoyed my time playing against them,” added Ashwin.
In Tests, Ashwin was one of the big figures in the Indian team’s 12-year long home domination and played a starring role in the 2020/21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy win in Australia. Ashwin was one of 11 allrounders to clinch the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests. He also won a record 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, level with Muthiah Muralitharan.
“I think it’s already getting long. I wouldn’t be taking any questions, but it’s truly a very emotional moment. I don’t think I’m in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way, so please pardon me for that. Once again, that’s my time.
“Thanks for being the journalist that you’ve been, writing good things and, of course, writing nasty things on occasions. That’s a relationship I think we would maintain forever. I hope the cricketers to come in the future will also get the same amount of love that you’ve given them.
“Once again, thank you all. See you all soon. As a cricketer, I’ve just stopped it. I might go on to be involved with the game because this is a game that’s given me everything. Thank you,” concluded Ashwin.
Source: IANS
