India’s veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from all formats of the game. Ashwin finished his Test career with 537 scalps, second-highest for India after Anil Kumble (619) and seventh highest overall, in 106 Test matches.
The all-rounder also amassed 3503 runs in the red-ball version, including six Test centuries. Ashwin bagged 156 ODI wickets in 116 matches whereas he snared 72 wickets in 65 T20I matches.
Reflecting on his long career, Rohit gave his gratitude to his teammates and support staff, who played a key role in his success.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level,” Ashwin said after the Brisbane Test at a press conference. “I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to express that and probably showcase that in club-level cricket, but this will be the last day [for India].
“I’ve had a lot of fun. I must say I have created a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and several of my other team-mates, even though I have lost some of them [to retirements] over the last few years. We’re the last bunch of OGs, if we can say that, left out in the dressing room, and . I will 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 team-mates. Several of them. I want to name a few of them. All the coaches who have been part of the journey. Most importantly, Rohit, Virat [Kohli], Ajinkya [Rahane], [Cheteshwar] Pujara, who have taken those splendid catches around the bat to give me the number of wickets I’ve 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.”
Saying that he wouldn’t be taking any questions from the media and was there just to make the news public, Ashwin said, “Truly a very emotional moment. I don’t think I am in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way. Please pardon me for that. Thanks for being the journalists you’ve been, writing good things and of course writing nasty things on occasions. That’s a relationship I think we would maintain forever, and I hope the cricketers to come in the future will also get the same amount of love.”
Ashwin will be seen in action playing in the Indian Premier League for Chennai Super Kings.
