Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket. One of the greatest and legend of Indian Cricket Team Ravi Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket following the conclusion of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy on Wednesday at The Gabba in Brisbane.
I am still in shocked to know that Ashwin retirement that too in the middle of ongoing test series against Australia. MS Dhoni did the same thing in 2014 but that time Indian Test Team was not performing well in overseas and that was main reason for Dhoni retirement for the test cricket. But Ashwin who has extraordinary career and was still going well. Since 2012 I have been seen any bad series especially in Indian oil.
Ravichandran Ashwin was the main man for Team India due to which they were unbeaten in the Test series for 12 long years. Ash was also very good in ODI’s and T20I as well but somehow, I feel he didn’t get enough chances in sorter format. But in the longer format is he true match winner and legend for Indian Team. Not sure if one bad New Zealand series provoked him to announce his retirement but still I feel he had few more years for Team India and wanted him to win WTC25 championship which he truly deserved.
The news was announced just moments after the completion of the drawn third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane, with Ashwin joining skipper Rohit Sharma at the post-match press conference to reveal the shock announcement. He Said, “This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level”. I do feel there is a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to expose that probably… showcase that in clubs that are in cricket, but this will be the last day. I had a lot of fun.
“I must say I created a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates. Even though I lost some of them over the last few years, we are the last bunch of OGs, if you can say that, left out of the dressing room. I would be marking this as my date of having played at this level. “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 the fellow teammates. I want to name a few of them. All the coaches who have been a part of the journey.
“Most importantly, Rohit, Virat [Kohli], Ajinkya [Rahane], [Cheteshwar] Pujara, who have taken those catches around the back to give me the number of wickets I have managed to get over the years. Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who have been very fierce competitors. I have enjoyed my time playing against them,” he added.
🗣️ "I've had a lot of fun and created a lot of memories."
All-rounder R Ashwin reflects after bringing the curtain down on a glorious career 👌👌#TeamIndia | #ThankYouAshwin | @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/dguzbaousg
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2024
At the time of retirement, the 38-year-old is fifth and third on the ICC Test rankings for bowlers and allrounders respectively. The second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests, behind Anil Kumble, Ashwin has called time on a 14-year career during which he played 106 Tests, the last of which was the day-night game in Adelaide earlier in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The fastest bowler to 250, 300 and 350 Test scalps, Ashwin finishes with an overall tally of 537 that puts him seventh on the all-time list of highest wicket-takers in Test history.
Ashwin, a name synonymous with mastery, wizardry, brilliance, and innovation, leaves behind an unparalleled legacy. Over his illustrious career spanning 14 years, Ashwin set benchmarks in both red and white-ball cricket. His remarkable journey of 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is is a testament to extraordinary skill, relentless hard work and research, and an in-depth understanding of the game. Ashwin’s contributions to Indian cricket are nothing short of exceptional. With 537 Test wickets, 156 ODI dismissals, and 72 scalps in T20 Internationals, he stands as one of the most prolific bowlers in cricketing history. His record includes an incredible 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests, the second-most in the history of the game, along with 8 ten-wicket hauls. These feats underline his knack for delivering match-winning performances.
Numbers that spin a tale of greatness 🙌
3⃣ Formats
🔝 Numbers
♾ Countless memories
1⃣ Champion Cricketer #ThankYouAshwin | #TeamIndia | @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/Die36HBJEE— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2024
Facing top opposition consistently brought out the best in Ashwin. He retires with an impressive 115 Test wickets against Australia and 114 against England. Notably, he took 115 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the second-most in the history of the contest. Beyond his bowling brilliance, Ashwin’s prowess with the bat made him an invaluable all-rounder. He scored six Test centuries and 14 fifties, including several resilient knocks in challenging conditions. Four of his centuries were complemented by five-wicket hauls in the same match, a rare feat reflecting his enormous contributions to the team.
Ashwin’s all-round skills earned him 11 Player of the Series awards, the joint-most in the longest format of the game. His achievements in white-ball cricket were equally impactful. A member of India’s World Cup-winning squad in 2011, Ashwin played a key role in India winning the ICC Champions Trophy in 2013 and he successfully defended 15 runs in the final over of the final against England in Birmingham. He has served Indian cricket with distinction and enriched its history with his artistry, intellect, and unmatched skills. Only fellow spinner Anil Kumble has more Test wickets for India than Ashwin’s haul of 537, while the 38-year-old also has the honor of having hit the winning runs in the epic run chase against Pakistan at the MCG in the 2022 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Ashwin’s count of 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests, including one on debut, is joint-second best alongside Shane Warne, and only behind Muttiah Muralitharan’s tally of 67. At the time of his retirement, Ashwin holds the record for dismissing most left-handers in Test cricket – 268. A handy batter lower down the order, he has also scored 3503 runs in Test cricket, including six centuries and 14 fifties. He holds the Indian record for most instances (4) of a century and a fifer in the same Test, only behind Ian Botham (5).
Ashwin, the Match winner 🙌
Ashwin, the Centurion 💯
Ashwin, the Magician with the ball 🪄
Ashwin, the Team man 🤝International cricket will miss them all ❤️#TeamIndia | #ThankYouAshwin | @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/ThvJ7pwRNT
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2024
Ashwin, who debuted for India in the longest format in 2011 against West Indies, is one of only three Test allrounders in the game to finish with more than 3000 Test runs and 500 wickets. He won the Man of the Series award 11 times is the joint-highest alongside Muralitharan – with India winning on each occasion. A member of the 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning Indian team, Ashwin also played 116 one-dayers for India, claiming 156 wickets at an economy of 4.93 and average 33.20. He also made 707 runs in the format. He was also capped 65 times in T20Is and claimed 72 wickets in the shortest format.
Ashwin was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award by the Indian government in 2015 and following a successful 2015-16 year, he was adjudged the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year Award as well as the Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year award in 2016. He was also named in the ICC Test Team of the Decade 2011-20. Bought for INR 9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, Ashwin is set to return to CSK in the coming season. He is also likely to continue playing in the Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) and another club-level cricket.
Ravichandran Ashwin factfile
* Second highest wicket take for India (537 wickets), seventh highest overall
* 37 five-wicket hauls, the joint second most with Shane Warne and only behind Muttiah Muralitharan (67)
* Dismissed most left-handers in Test cricket (268)
* Joint most POTS awards (11) alongside Muttiah Muralitharan
* Best SR for a spinner in Tests with a minimum of 200 wickets (50.7)
* Four times he has scored a century and picked up a five-wicket haul in a Test, second most behind Ian Botham’s five
* Never missed a Test match at home
One of the greats 🫡
Happy retirement to Ravichandran Ashwin, a matchwinner unlike any other. pic.twitter.com/ZgunVWbkmI
— ICC (@ICC) December 18, 2024
Durgesh Tiwary’s View: Ashwin is one of my favorite cricketers of Indian Cricket Team after Rohit Sharma. When Rohit announced his retirement from T20I cricket I still finds it okay but today I am in extremely shocked to know about Ravichandran Ashwin retirement that too in ongoing test series against Australia without any formal announcement.
A legend and great crickets like Ashwin should had announced his retirement on Indian soil playing a test match on his home soil like great Sachin Tendulkar did in Mumbai in 2013. I was regularly dreaming of Ashwin crossing Anil Kumble records of 619 wickets and was waiting to see lifting world test championship. Some dreams are not meant to be true, I guess. I will badly miss him When Indian Test Team will play on home ground in October 2025.
Thank you, Ravichandran Ashwin, for all the memories that I will be cherished in my entire life as cricket fan. Looking forward to seeing you in IPL 2025. Although you will be playing in rival team Chennai Super Kings but will be praying for your good performance against every team except Mumbai Indians :)18th
A Legend Bids Adieu to International Cricket 👏👏
Hear what R Ashwin’s parting words were to the Indian dressing room 🎥🔽#TeamIndia | @ashwinravi99 https://t.co/6wtwdDOmzX
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2024
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