Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international
cricket with immediate effect. Ashwin revealed his decision at the end of the
third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, which ended in a draw due to
rain.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all
formats at the international level. I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me
as a cricketer, but I would like to expose and probably showcase that in club
level cricket, but this will be the last day. I've 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 ends his career with 537 wickets at average of 24 in
106 Tests and becoming India’s second leading wicket-taker after legendary
leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He also scored six Test centuries and 14 fifties with
the bat. His last international game was the day-night Test in Adelaide, where
he took 1-53.
His retirement announcement looked imminent once TV visuals
showed an emotional Ashwin being given a hug by Virat Kohli on the balcony of
the dressing room during the rain delay. Ashwin also played 116 ODIs for India,
taking 156 wickets, and being a member of 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions
Trophy winning teams.
Ashwin also played 65 T20I matches and took 72 wickets.
“Obviously, there are a lot of 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.
