New Delhi: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has called time on his international career, bringing an end to a remarkable 13-year journey which saw him scalp 765 wickets in 287 matches.
The 38-year-old cricketer made the shock announcement Wednesday, right after India’s drawn Test match against Australia in Brisbane.
Ashwin will continue his cricketing journey in franchise and club cricket. He was signed by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 9.75 crore in the Indian Premier League 2025 mega auction.
His career is underscored by impressive statistics, including his status of India’s second-highest wicket-taker (537) behind Anil Kumble’s 619 in Tests. Overall, the spin great sits in 11th position on the all-time list across formats.
“I don’t want to make it about myself. This is my last day as an international cricketer. I have created a lot of memories. We are the last bunch of OGs (old generation) in the dressing room. I have a lot of people to thank… BCCI, my fellow teammates, all the coaches. This will be my last day as an India international cricketer. I will play club cricket. I had a lot of fun,” Ashwin said at the post-match press conference in Brisbane.
“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,” he added.
Rumours about Ashwin’s future had been circulating, and they reached a fever pitch during the rain delay on Day 5 of the India-Australia Test match. The speculation was further fueled when former India captain Sunil Gavaskar hinted at Ashwin’s retirement during the live broadcast.
A heartwarming moment was captured on camera, showing Virat Kohli consoling an emotional Ashwin, which sparked whispers that a major announcement was imminent.
🫂💙🇮🇳
Emotional moments from the Indian dressing room 🥹#AUSvINDOnStar #BorderGavaskarTrophy #Ashwin #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/92a4NqNsyP
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 18, 2024
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed his support for Ashwin’s decision to retire. “Some decisions are very personal and I don’t think too many questions should be asked or raised. If a player has [made] a choice, he has to be given that choice, and somebody like Ashwin who has been there for us for so many years is allowed to make those kind of decisions on his own and we as team-mates have to respect it,” Rohit said.
“He was very sure about what he wanted to do and the team has complete backing of his thought process.”
Later, Ashwin was forthcoming in his thoughts about his retirement in his conversation with senior sports journalist Boria Majumdar. “It is time to think. I want to bow out on my terms. It has always been about the team for me. I will never want to be just a passenger.”
Unrelenting passion
Ashwin made his first-class debut for Tamil Nadu in December 2006 and went on to captain the team the following season. He was an integral part of the Indian team that lifted the 2011 Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Initially, Ashwin began his career as an opening batsman but later transitioned to become an off-break bowler due to limited success in the top order. His approach to spin bowling was driven by a scientific mind, coupled with an unrelenting passion to unravel its innermost secrets.
Blessed with a sharp cricketing IQ, the Chennai-born cricketer’s pursuit was marked by not merely claiming wickets, but also with a quest to distill the essence of spin bowling, where every delivery was a step closer to grasping the fundamental soul of the craft and to master a new variation.
Be it carrom ball, doosra, top spin or slider, Ashwin had it all in his bowling arsenal that made him a game-changer for the Indian team, both in shorter and longer format of cricket. Ashwin’s impressive Test record is a testament to his skill as a match-winner.
His average of 24 and strike rate of 50 are the best among Indian spinners, making him a standout performer in the longest format. Ashwin is the first bowler to claim 100 wickets in the World Test Championship, and he tops the charts with 195 scalps in 41 matches.
While he took 156 wickets in 116 one-day internationals, Ashwin has 72 wickets from 65 Twenty-20 matches. His trophy cabinet boasts a record 11 Player of the Series awards, a feat he shares with the legendary Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan.
What sets him apart from his ilk is the ability to take crucial wickets and turn matches in India’s favour. The spin great was, particularly, more than a handful for left-hand batsmen.
He regularly dismissed Australia’s Steve Smith, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson, and England’s Joe Root, who are part of the Fab Four of the present generation.
Some of his notable ‘bunnies’ include England’s Ben Stokes (12 times), Australia’s David Warner (11 times), England’s Alastair Cook (9 times), and Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara, whom he famously dismissed four times in just 23 balls during the Sri Lankan legend’s farewell series in 2015.
At the crease with the bat, Ashwin was no stranger to gritty knocks, especially in Test matches. Boasting six centuries and 14 half-centuries, he sat atop the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings as the world’s number one Test allrounder for a long time. In the latest ICC Men’s Test All-Rounder Rankings released in November, he sits second in the list after fellow teammate Ravindra Jadeja.
In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Indian cricket, Ashwin has received several prestigious honors. He is an Arjuna awardee and was named the ICC Men’s Player of the Year in 2016
Ashwin’s consistent performance earned him a spot in the ICC Test Team of the Year on five occasions: 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2021. Furthermore, he was included in the ICC’s Test Team of the Decade and was a nominee for the ICC Male Cricketer of the Decade award for 2011-2020.
Accolades poured in from cricketers, both past and present, as Ashwin announced his retirement from all international formats.
Former off-spinner Harbhajan Singh summed it up perfectly on the Star Sports broadcast. “It is an extremely tough call for any cricketer, to retire in the middle of the series might seem abrupt but this decision must’ve been a long time loading,” he said, suggesting that Ashwin’s decision was likely the result of careful consideration and contemplation over time.
Kumble was effusive in his praise of Ashwin for his “extraordinary journey”. “With over 700 international wickets and a keen cricketing mind, you are one of the finest to have graced the field,” he posted on ‘X’.
Fellow Australian spinner Nathan Lyon expressed his admiration for the Indian cricketer while speaking to Fox Cricket. “Nothing but respect (for Ashwin). Just the way Ash has conducted himself on and off the field for a number of years now, and his skill set is incredible. We’ve got different opinions on different things, there’s no right or wrong. But to have those conversations with a bowler like Ashwin is amazing,” he said.
Gautam Gambhir, head coach of the Indian team, paid a heartfelt tribute to the spin maestro. “The privilege of watching you grow from a young bowler to a modern cricket legend is priceless! I’m sure future generations of bowlers will say they were inspired to take up the sport because of you, Ashwin. You will be deeply missed, brother!” Gambhir posted on ‘X’.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Vinod Kambli says he commented against Sachin in frustration, ‘ready to go to rehab’