In a significant development, India’s star all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket. The 38-year-old cricketer, regarded as one of the finest players to represent India, has decided to call time on an illustrious career that saw him take 765 wickets across all formats.
Ashwin broke the news during a press conference in Brisbane on Wednesday, where he was accompanied by India captain Rohit Sharma.
“This will be my last year as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level,” Ashwin said. “I feel there’s a little bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I’d like to express that, showcase that in club-level cricket. I’ve had a lot of fun and made countless memories alongside Rohit and my teammates, even though we’ve lost some of them (to retirements) over the last few years. We’re the last bunch of OGs, we can say that. I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level.”
Ashwin expressed gratitude towards the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), his teammates, and all those who supported him throughout his career. “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 my fellow team-mates,” he added.
The ongoing Adelaide Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be Ashwin’s final international match. Speaking about the announcement, Rohit Sharma said, “We as teammates have to respect it. He was very sure of what he wanted to do. The team has complete backing of his thought process. There’s a gap for us as a team to recollect our thoughts and figure out how to proceed further. He was very, very sure of this decision.”
Ashwin made his international debut in June 2010, playing an ODI against Sri Lanka in Harare. He played his first T20I in the same month against Zimbabwe and earned his Test cap in November 2011 against the West Indies. Over the years, he established himself as one of the greatest bowlers in cricket history.
In Tests, Ashwin claimed 537 wickets in 106 matches at an average of 24, including 37 five-wicket hauls and eight 10-wicket match hauls. His record of 37 five-wicket hauls is the joint-second highest in Test history, alongside the legendary Shane Warne. With 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, Ashwin is tied with Muttiah Muralitharan for the most such accolades in Test history. He retires as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests.
In limited-overs cricket, Ashwin’s contributions were equally impressive. He took 156 wickets in 116 ODIs and 72 scalps in 65 T20Is. Besides his bowling prowess, Ashwin also showcased his skills as a batter. He scored 3503 runs in Tests, including six centuries and 14 half-centuries. Notably, he is one of only 11 all-rounders in Test history to achieve the rare double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets.
Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket. Known for his tactical brilliance and adaptability, he has left an indelible mark on the game. His ability to outthink batters, coupled with his contributions as a lower-order batter, made him an invaluable asset to the Indian team.
