Ravichandran Ashwin retires from international cricket, retiring as India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker

Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s top off-spinner, has announced his retirement from international cricket, retiring from the game as the country’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. Ashwin, 38, announced his decision soon after India drew the third Gabba Test against Australia in Brisbane, ending a legendary 13-year career for India. With 537 wickets, Ravichandran Ashwin is just behind the legendary Anil Kumble’s 619. He will return home to India tomorrow.

“I don’t want to talk about myself. This is my last day as an international cricketer. I created many memories. We’re the last OGs in the locker room. I have a lot of people to thank.”… BCCI, my teammates, all the coaches. This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer. I had a lot of fun at the press conference after the game.

Speculations about R Ashwin’s future gained momentum when cameras caught Virat Kohli hugging an emotional Ashwin during the rain break on day five. Something was definitely brewing – Ashwin was also spotted spending time with his Australian counterpart Nathan Lyon. In a live broadcast, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar all but confirmed Ashwin’s retirement, which was confirmed a few hours later.

Ashwin’s resignation comes in the middle of the India vs Australia Test series. He played just one Test in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He was named in the playing eleven for the second Test in Adelaide, which Australia won by ten wickets. In the match, Ashwin took just one wicket and scored scores of 22 and 7. Ashwin has been playing in Indian cricket for a long time and is undoubtedly one of the greatest off-spinners the country has ever produced. He played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is for India and took 775 wickets across all formats.

In Tests, Ashwin has picked his wickets at an average of 24 and a strike rate of 50.7; He also has 37 five-wicket hauls. The list of achievements does not end here. Ashwin emerges as the seventh highest wicket-taker in Tests and is currently the most off-spinner bowler in Tests; However, Nathan Lyon will eventually surpass his record.

Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies. However, he made his international debut a year earlier when he was named in the ODI starting eleven for a match against Sri Lanka. Ashwin came onto the scene while playing alongside MS Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL. The World Cup-winning captain got the best out of Ashwin and often entrusted him with the new ball in the powerplay.

The spinner did not disappoint as Ashwin often took out the likes of Chris Gayle in the powerplay. Training Ashwin in the IPL paved the way for Dhoni to unleash the bowler in international cricket and there has been no looking back since then. Ashwin came into his own in 2011 and was part of India’s winning campaign in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Ashwin’s legend in Tests is unmatched

Although Ashwin hasn’t done too badly in the limited-overs, he has made a name for himself in the Test matches, making him pretty much irreplaceable. He made the opposition batsmen dance to his songs, especially in India. Ashwin also has a phenomenal record against left-handed batters. Of all his Test wickets, 383 came in India at an average of 21.57. Despite being a modern player, Ashwin was often on the bench when India played abroad. Ashwin played 26 Tests in SENA (South Africa, England, New Zealand and Australia).

Ashwin also proved to be a persistent customer with the bat in hand, scoring six centuries and ten half-centuries in Tests. In 106 games he scored 3503 runs at an average of 25.75. He also recently scored a century against Bangladesh and who can forget the sight of Ashwin battling with a bad back against Hanuma Vihari (who was down with a torn hamstring) four years ago to rescue a draw for India in the legendary SCG Test?

Ashwin is bowing out of the international arena and is truly a great of the game. He will next be back in action in the IPL 2025 where he will again play for the Chennai Super Kings after being bought by the franchise in the mega auction last month.