15 January 2025- On and off the field, India’s recent 1-3 loss in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) has triggered intense introspection within Indian cricket Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden mid-series retirement stood out among the many events that transpired during that tour as the most startling revelation, leaving both fans and experts to consider its ramifications.
Following the third Test, the renowned off-spinner, who is regarded as one of India’s greatest cricket players, said goodbye to international cricket. The cricket community was taken aback by Ashwin’s decision at the age of 38, which stoked rumors of conflict with the team management and tensions in the dressing room.
But Ashwin’s own words made clear that his decision had a very personal motivation.
“I think a lot. What to do in life. You all need to understand, that this happens instinctively. If someone gets to know, that their job is done, once that thinking comes, there is nothing to think. People said a lot of things. I don’t think it is a big deal,” Ashwin shared on his Hindi YouTube channel, Ash ki Baat.
In Frame:- R Ashwin
“You think what happened? I did not play the first Test. I played the second, did not play the third. It was possible I could play the next or not play the next. This is a side of my creativity and I was looking to explore it. At that time, I felt my creativity was over, so it was over. It was simple.”
Discussions concerning whether Ashwin deserved a final Test were triggered by the decision. In response, he stated clearly that he did not want an official departure.
“What difference would it make if I had the ball and everyone applauded? For what length of time will people discuss it? Without social media, people would discuss it and then forget about it after a week. A farewell is not necessary. We have had a great time playing the game, and it has given us a lot.”
“I’d like to play cricket more. What location is it? Evidently not from the Indian dressing room, but from another location. Finishing when someone asks “why” rather than “why not” is always preferable, ” he continued.
Ashwin retires as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 wickets in 106 matches, and 765 wickets across formats.
READ MORE:- When Yuvraj Singh’s father went to shoot Kapil Dev
