“This will be my last day as an International Cricketer in all formats”, the shocking announcement came from all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin on the final day of the 3rd Gabba Test. The decision from him stunned the cricketing world. It was an emotional moment for all the cricketing fans, who witnessed the journey for more than 13 long years.

Big News from Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin politely told the journalists at the press conference, “I can’t take any questions as it’s an emotional moment for me”. Skipper Rohit Sharma, who was present alongside Ashwin, when the announcement was made, said, “he came to know the decision at the first Test”, however convinced Ashwin to stay until the Pink ball Test. The Indian skipper extended, it was his personal decision to retire from all formats. Rohit emphasised that we also don’t know what sort of combinations we will be playing in the Australian conditions as each game demands different spinners, which has triggered Ashwin to announce his retirement at the mid-way of the Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement was the talk of the town as the whole cricketing fraternity poured emotional messages on their social media, saluting the legendary off-spinner. Even Ashwin has shared the post-retirement call log that features stalwarts Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev. Ashwin wrote on his Twitter, “If someone told me 25 years ago that I would have a smartphone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this, I would have had a heart attack then only”. There are a lot of questions that arise, why did Ravichandran Ashwin retire suddenly？What all things went close doors？

Why Did Ravichandran Ashwin Retire？

Ashwin had a mediocre home Test series against New Zealand that India lost badly by a 3-0 margin. He finished the home series with 9 scalps and 51 runs with the bat. That was a kind wake-up call for the kind of quality he brings to the table. His state mate, Washington Sundar preferred for the 1st Test at Perth, which may have also hurt him that his services weren’t needed anymore for Indian Cricket. When he was left out of the Gabba Test, he decided to retire from International cricket. Even the teammates were shocked about the decision as they came to know at the last moment.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement is hard for any avid cricket follower to digest as the tall off-spinning all-rounder raised through the ranks to bid adieu as a legendary Indian cricketer. It’s a tough pill to swallow for his family as well as Ravichandran Ashwin’s father, who made a shocking statement that “humiliation was going on know, how long he can tolerate all those things, probably decided on his own”, this created a lot of speculations about Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement. His father also stated we came to know about the decision when they heard the news after the 3rd Test. He further added he could have continued.

Probably, Ravichandran Ashwin’s father himself understood that his son was regularly sidelined in the away Tests, and that would be the reason for his shocking statement. When things got out of hand, Ashwin interfered and cleared the air on his Twitter, “My dad isn’t media trained, dey father enna da ithelaam (Hey father what’s all this). I never thought you would follow this rich tradition of “dad statements”. Request you all to forgive him and leave him alone.”

My dad isn’t media trained, dey father enna da ithelaam 😂😂.

I never thought you would follow this rich tradition of “dad statements” .🤣

Request you all to forgive him and leave him alone 🙏 https://t.co/Y1GFEwJsVc

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 19, 2024

He was Humiliated：Reason for Ravichandran Ashwin’s Retirement？

Going with the facts and current situation, with how Indian cricket is blooming, the above-mentioned statement is entirely wrong. Indian cricket possesses talent in every corner of the country and there are a lot of players tapping the selector’s doors, among which was Washington Sundar, who is considered heir apparent to Ravichandran Ashwin. At 38, in the final stages of his career, Ashwin would have continued for another year, but from the Indian cricket future point of view, they needed someone young to occupy his place. Ashwin wasn’t the first-choice off-spinner anymore, that’s the reason for his sudden retirement.

Where Ashwin Will Go Next？

Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement from all forms of International cricket, allows him to focus completely on club cricket, which he mentioned during his final press conference as an International cricketer. He was picked up by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 9.5 crore in the IPL 2025 Auction, which will be his next big assignment. Ashwin runs a Cricket Academy named ‘Gen-Next Cricket Institute’ and will spend more time there in the future. It wouldn’t be a surprise if he plays for Tamil Nadu going forward. He even featured in the TNPL (Premier T20 Tournament in Tamil Nadu).

Achievement Made by Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin finished as the 2nd leading wicket-taker for India in the longest format with 537 scalps in 106 matches, only behind Anil Kumble’s (619). He also had a great career with the bat in Tests, amassing 3503 runs at an average of 25.75, which comprises 6 centuries and 14 half-centuries. In 116 ODIs, he claimed 156 wickets at an economy of 4.93, and with the bat, he added 707 runs. He picked up 65 wickets and scored 184 runs across 65 T20Is. Ashwin holds the joint most number (11) of Man of the Series awards in Test with legendary off-spinner Muthiah Muralidaran.

Fans are still trying to understand why did Ravichandran Ashwin retire abruptly and Ravichandran Ashwin’s Father’s comments further fueled the debate. While everything is said and done now, we have to live with the fact that we will not see Ashwin in Indian colours anymore. He has arguably had the best cricketing career and will forever remain an inspiration for the future generation. Thank you, Ash Anna！