Virat Kohli gets emotional as teary-eyed Ravichandran Ashwin tells him he is retiring: ‘I played with you for 14 years…’

Virat Kohli said Ravichandran Ashwin informed him of his retirement on Wednesday, leaving the former India captain extremely emotional. Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket after India’s third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw following several rain disruptions. As the players waited for play to resume after tea on day five, Ashwin chatted with Kohli in the Indian dressing room. Perhaps during this time, Ashwin informed Kohli of his decision to retire. Kohli was seen hugging his teammate. Kohli had his arm around the senior bowler’s shoulder and Ashwin wiped his eyes before bursting into laughter.

In an emotional note for Ashwin, Kohli said memories of 14 years of playing international cricket together flashed before his eyes when the legendary off-spinner, who is India’s second-highest wicket-taker of all time in Tests, told him about his retirement.

“I played with you for 14 years and when you told me today that you were retiring, it touched me a little and I have memories of all the years we played together,” said Kohli.

Kohli, who played 263 matches – 93 Tests, 114 ODIs and 56 T20Is – for India between 2010 and 2024, described Ashwin as one of India’s greatest match-winners.

“I enjoyed every part of the journey with you Ash, your skills and match-winning contributions to Indian cricket are second to none and you will always and forever be remembered as a legend of Indian cricket. I wish you only the best in your life.” “Life with your family and everything else that comes your way, with great respect and love for yourself and your loved ones,” he wrote.

Ashwin emerges as one of India’s biggest match winners

The 38-year-old retires as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, trailing only the great Anil Kumble (619 wickets) in the overall statistics.

In the limited-overs format, playing in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams were among the highlights of his career.

He will continue to play club cricket, including the IPL, where he will return next year to play for the Chennai Super Kings.

“Today will be the last day for me as an Indian cricketer in all formats,” Ashwin said at the end of the drawn third Test here in a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma, where he declined to answer questions and walked away from the announcement .

The series is still alive with two Tests remaining in Melbourne and Sydney as the two teams are tied 1-1 after a win each.

Ashwin will return to India on Thursday. Ashwin played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket. The fact that he was not a sure starter in the playing eleven over the course of the three Tests led him to think about his future in the team and ultimately embark on a remarkable career.