On December 18, 2024, Indian cricket witnessed a seismic moment as one of its stalwarts, Ravichandran Ashwin, announced his retirement from international cricket following the third Test of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Ashwin’s decision has left fans and pundits in shock, especially given its timing and the events leading up to it. The off-spinner has 537 wickets in 106 test matches with 37 5-fers and has scored 3503 runs with the bat with 14 50s and 6 100s to his name. In this blog, we delve into the reasons behind Ashwin’s retirement and the circumstances that may have pushed one of India’s greatest matchwinners into ending his illustrious career prematurely.
THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS LEADING TO RETIREMENT
Ashwin’s announcement came shortly after India drew the Brisbane Test, marking a pivotal moment in the series. Captain Rohit Sharma later revealed that Ashwin had expressed his desire to retire as early as the first Test of the series. This statement sparked debates about whether Ashwin’s decision was entirely personal or influenced by external factors. Having been dropped for the opening Test of the series, Ashwin returned for the day-night encounter in Adelaide. Despite his contributions, he was again omitted for the third Test in favor of Ravindra Jadeja. The lack of consistent opportunities during the series further raised questions about the management’s approach towards Ashwin.
FACTORS THAT PUSHED ASHWIN INTO EARLY RETIREMENT
THE RISE OF WASHINGTON SUNDAR
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