Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin sent shockwaves across the entire cricketing world when he announced his retirement from cricket in the middle of Border Gavaskar Trophy in Australia earlier this month. While Ravichandran Ashwin made a statement to the press about his retirement, he refused to take any questions on the matter. However, the 37 year old had now finally broken his silence on international cricket retirement giving insights behind why he took the decision at this stage in his career.
Ravichandran Ashwin stunned the cricket world after the third India vs Australia Test in Brisbane as he announced his retirement from international cricket. Being the highest wicket-taker among active bowlers with 537 scalps, many expected R Ashwin, 38, to continue for some more time. However, he retired with two Tests left in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Notably, Ravichandran Ashwin is the 7th highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 wickets in the 106 matches. In terms of Indian bowlers, R Ashwin is only behind Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets.
Ravichandran Ashwin played his last Test match against Australia in Adelaide, but he had not announced his retirement then. So, the legend did not get any guard of honor in that Test, but he previously received guard of honor from the Indian team during his 100th Test match in March 2024 against England.
Ravichandran Ashwin A legendary off spinner of Indian cricket
India’s premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia. R Ashwin retires from the game as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). He will continue to play club cricket. In his final press-conference, alongside an emotional India captain Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin broke his retirement news.
It was quite an emotional moment for Ashwin and his family at that time, and while giving guard of honor during his 100th test match, Rohit Sharma hugged Ashwin which created quite a news at that time.
Ashwin took nine wickets in that Test match, with four in the first innings and five in the second and was going great guns before the New Zealand series. He could not live upto his billing in the New Zealand series, and that probably triggered his retirement call.
To possess 537 wickets, currently seventh in the all-time list, 37 five-wicket hauls, and 3503 runs with six hundreds, mark Ashwin as a great in Tests. It is a format he embraced well even if his initial foray into the spotlight were through his spells in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In ODIs, Ashwin bagged 156 wickets and made a belated comeback too, such was his zeal to compete. Ashwin also played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is for India, taking 228 wickets across these two formats.
Ashwin is currently the seventh-highest Test wicket-taker of all time. Not just that, he also has six hundreds to his name in the longest format. R Ashwin’s mid-way retirement during the Australia series has brought back memories of similar decisions by MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble in the past. However, R Ashwin will continue to play in IPL as he has retired only from international cricket and was recently bought by CSK in IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Now, R Ashwin has broken a long silence on the reason behind his retirement.
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and that call became the biggest talking point. Just the manner in which the events unfolded was surprising. Even days after that incident took place, it is still being talked about. Recently, former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin opined on the subject. Admitting that it was ‘funny’, Haddin reckoned Ashwin was not happy being benched.
Former Australian player Brad Haddin thinks ego issues led to senior Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement mid way in BGT 2024-25
Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin has shared his honest opinion on R Ashwin retiring from international cricket midway through BGT 2024-25. In Haddin’s view, Ashwin’s ego was hurt when India picked Washington Sundar over him for the first Test.
Speaking on Willow Talk, Brad Haddin reviewed the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between India and Australia. The Aussies defeated India 3-1, and after the third Test of the series in Brisbane, senior Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin shockingly decided to end his career.
In Haddin’s view, the former Indian spinner was unhappy over not being considered the nation’s number one spinner.
“Ashwin retiring mid-series was a funny one. I don’t think we’ve heard the last of that yet. I think he was just jack of not getting picked. I think he sees himself as the number one spinner. His record is elite, and he just went, ‘You know what I’m not sitting on the bench. If you can’t decide that I’m your best spinner, I’m done. I’ve played enough. I don’t need this.’ I don’t think we have heard the end of that,” Haddin said.
India tried out three spinners in the first three Tests of BGT 2024-25. Washington Sundar played the first Test but Ravichandran Ashwin replaced him in the next match. Ravindra Jadeja came into the playing XI, replacing Ashwin for the third Test.
Soon after Ravichandran decided to end his career, fans noticed a surprising similarity between his last Test and T20I appearances. The off-spinner’s last Test appearance came against Australia at Adelaide Oval, where India lost by 10 wickets. Back in 2022, Ravichandran played his last T20I game for India against England in the T20 World Cup semifinals. It was also played at the Adelaide Oval, and India lost that game by 10 wickets as well. The 38-year-old will still continue to play in the IPL. He will play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025.