Ravichandran Ashwin retires: Best performances throughout his career – From a no-out against Pakistan to Sydney heroics in 2021

Ravichandran Ashwin brought the curtain down on his long 14-year international career after India’s drawn Test match against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday. After making his debut in 2010, Ashwin grew in stature and emerged as one of the legends of the game, especially in Test cricket. With 537 wickets in 106 Tests, Ashwin finished just behind the legendary Anil Kumble (619) for the most Test scalps for India.

Not only his wicket-taking ability but also his skills as a lower-middle order batsman have made Ashwin one of the most influential cricketers in world cricket. From his two wickets against Australia in the quarter-final of the 2011 ODI World Cup to his heroics in the Champions Trophy final a year later in England, Ravichandran Ashwin’s list of memorable achievements is long. Let’s take a look at some of them as the 38-year-old keeps his Indians jersey alone.

7/59 vs New Zealand (2016 – Test)

After Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane went on a rampage with the bat against the New Zealanders in the third Test in Indore, it was Ravichandran Ashwin’s turn to weave magic with the ball. Ashwin took full advantage of the shooting conditions and scored 6/81 and 7/59 in the match which India won by 321 runs. It was also in the same series, Ashwin finished with a whopping 27 wickets from three matches. He also suffered a six-fer in the first test of the series.

2/52 against Australia in the 2011 ODI World Cup

Although Ravichandran Ashwin could only play two of India’s nine matches in the 2011 ODI World Cup, the off-spinner made sure to make an impact. The off-spinner, then just a year old and playing international cricket, opened the bowling against the mighty Australians in the quarter-final and did not disappoint his captain with the wicket of Shane Watson.

Later, Ashwin dismissed Australian skipper Ricky Ponting for 140. From the outside looking in, it might look like Ashwin took just two wickets, but the pressure and impact he put on the opposition batters deserves applause.

2/15 vs England – 2013 Champions Trophy Final

With just 129 runs on board in a rain-soaked Champions Trophy final in 2013, Ravichandran Ashwin rewarded then Indian captain MS Dhoni’s faith with a stellar show at Lord’s. In windy conditions with the ball traveling faster than normal, Ashwin pinned England to 2-0-6-2 in his first game, with the wickets of Jonathan Trott and Joe Root bowled in successive overs.

To make matters worse for the hosts, Ashwin bowled his first third delivery before Dhoni played his trump card in the final over with England needing 14 runs to win. Ashwin did not let his skipper down as England managed just eight runs, giving India a thrilling five-run victory and lifting the title for the first time.

39*, 128b vs Australia – Sydney Test, 2021

After trailing by 407 runs and 309 runs on the final day in Sydney in 2021, India suffered a major blow when skipper Ajinkya Rahane returned early. Although Cheteshwar Pujara (77) and Rishabh Pant (97) revived India with the score at 148 runs, it was left to Ravichandran Ashwin and Hanuma Vihari to create what became a historic partnership in the annals of Indian cricket.

With nagging back pain preventing him from sitting down, Ravichandran Ashwin showed courage and perseverance as he along with Vihari not only stopped the Aussies but the duo survived 259 balls and added 62 unbeaten runs to defeat the hosts. While Vihari batted 161 balls for his unbeaten 23, Ashwin took 128 balls for 39 without India ending the game in a draw.

1* against Pakistan – T20 World Cup, 2022)

Ravichandran Ashwin walked out to hit the last ball of the match against Pakistan in front of the packed Melbourne Cricket Ground. With India needing two runs off the last ball, Ashwin entered the field after Dinesh Karthik was bowled by Mohammad Nawaz.

A masterful tactician, Ashwin maintained his game awareness as he tried to score a Nawaz delivery that went past the off-stump. With the score level, the all-rounder hit a shot perfectly over the middle line to score the winning runs and give India a memorable win.