Since the time Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement, there has been a lot of speculation about the abrupt decision that happened in the middle of the 2024-25 Border Gavaskar Trophy. Ravichandran Ashwin was picked in only one of the first three Tests, after which he announced his retirement from international retirement. After the decision, there have been several theories.
Veteran Indian spinner 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 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.
R 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 surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia. Ravichandran 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 Ravichandran 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.
Ravichandran 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 eighth in the all-time list, 37 five-wicket hauls, and 3503 runs with six hundreds, mark R 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, R Ashwin bagged 156 wickets and made a belated comeback too, such was his zeal to compete. R Ashwin also played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is for India, taking 228 wickets across these two formats
R Ashwin is currently at the eighth position among bowlers who have taken the most wickets in Test cricket. He ended his stellar career with 106 Tests in which he claimed 537 wickets at an average of 24, with 37 five-fers and eight 10-wicket match hauls. He also scored six Test tons.
Muttiah Muralitharan (800) is the all-time leading Test wicket-taker. He is followed by Shane Warne (708), James Anderson (704), Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604), Glenn McGrath (563) and Nathan Lyon (539).
R Ashwin is currently the eight-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.
Ravichandran Ashwin made a shocking statement regarding his sudden retirement from Test cricket during BGT 2024-25
Indian cricket great Ravichandran Ashwin shocked all when he announced a sudden retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in December, 2024. Following the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane, Ashwin made the announcement in the post-match press conference with then skipper Rohit Sharma by his side after the game ended in a draw.
Ravichandran Ashwin retired 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). Ravichandran Ashwin continue to play domestic cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL).
“I think it was just the time, and where I stood in my life, right? I think I was pretty old, I must admit,” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel, where former India coach Rahul Dravid had come as a guest.
“But going on tours, and you know, having to just sit out a lot more, it just eventually got to me.”
Ashwin added he wanted to spend more time with family.
“I mean, not in terms of not wanting to contribute to the team, but you’re thinking if I would rather be at home, spending time with children. They are also growing up, and what am I actually doing?” said the off-spinner.
“I just felt, ok. In my head, I always decided that I would retire at 34-35.”
Ashwin spearheaded the bowling attack and was a major face behind India’s rise to the top and eventual domination in Test cricket that lasted from 2014 to 2019. When one turns to look at his dominance in the home conditions, he was a phenom. His expertise wasn’t just limited to the ball but also some impactful contributions with the bat.
In the white-ball format, Ashwin made 181 appearances and snatched 228 wickets. He made 116 ODI appearances and took 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with best figures of 4/25. He also made 707 runs at an average of 16.44, with one fifty, a knock of 65 in 63 innings. He is the 13th-highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India. In 65 T20Is, he took 72 wickets at an average of 23.22. His best figures are 4/8. He also scored 184 runs in 19 innings at an average of 26.28, with best score of 31. He is the sixth-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is.
With 765 scalps in 287 matches, he is India’s second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, next to Kumble (953). He also won the 2011 50-Over World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy with India.
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