Ravichandran Ashwin Retired From International Cricket

Indian spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket after the end of day 5 of India’s tour of Australia 2024 at Gabba, Brisbane on Wednesday. Ashwin made his retirement official when he joined captain Rohit Sharma for the press conference after the match and said- ” “This is my last day as an international cricketer. I have created a lot of memories. We are the last bunch of OGs in the dressing room. Lot of people to thank, BCCI, my fellow teammates, all the coaches,”

In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series, he played only one match: the Pink ball test match in Adelaide, which India lost by 10 wickets. The 38-year-old took 1 wicket and scored 29 runs in two innings. Prior to the Australia series, Ashwin featured in all three matches in India’s outrageous 0-3 whitewash against New Zealand at home and bagged nine wickets in three games, however, his state teammate Washington Sundar stole all the limelight with his outstanding performance. Sundar was even preferred ahead of Ashwin in the first test in Perth.

Having made his test debut in 2011 against West Indies, the Tamilnadu spin maestro left an everlasting impression in world cricket, finishing off as one of the greatest spin bowlers of all time with 765 wickets in 287 matches, the second most by any Indian after legendary Anil Kumble who took 956 wickets. In tests, the tall off-spinner claimed 537 wickets in 106 games, including 37 fifers. Ashwin not only fascinated the world with his skillful bowling but was handy with the bat also which saw him making 3503 test runs with the help of 6 centuries.

He played 116 ODIs from 2010 to 2023 and took 156 wickets along with being the World champion with India in 2011. Ashwin even famously bowled the last over of the 2013 Champions Trophy final against England when 15 were needed out of 6 balls, and he demonstrated the nerve of steel and conceded only 9 runs, helping India win by five runs and clinch their second Champions trophy. In the T20 World Cup, he ended as the highest wicket-taker for India with 32 wickets in 24 matches.

Ashwin may have hanged his boots from the international arena, however, he will be seen in the 2025 IPL in the yellow jersey after CSK bought him for a whopping INR 9.75 cr in the mega auction held in Saudi Arabia in the last month. Apart from that, Ashwin has a strong command over English commentary which we see often on his YouTube channel and as well as in the interviews.