NEW DELHI: Ravichandran Ashwin sparred with his insecurities as a child for far too long and perhaps didn't want to be dragged into a rigmarole of insecurities once again.
It is for this reason that an abrupt retirement from international cricket would not seem out of the blue for anyone who has followed the man's journey. It could have happened in Sydney after the fifth Test against Australia but he didn't want to hang around.
No one had to tell him that it was time to walk away from the game that consumed nearly three decades of his 38-year-old existence. Ashwin, the straight shooter, did a cameo presser to let the world know in John Denver style "My bags are packed and I am ready go".
He wore many hats as an active international cricketer and it would take just a five-minute conversation with him would be enough to know that he can see through word salad quite easily.
It is very difficult to stereotype Ashwin even after 14 years at the top level. The 765 international wickets are not a good enough data to decode the veteran, who admitted to being insecure as a kid in his book. He gradually won that battle with cricket playing a major role in shaping him into an assured person.
"I would rather fail in life than be absolutely safe. That's my character. I don't have the common insecurities that people have," Ashwin had recently said when the first part of his autobiography "I Have The Streets" released a few months back.
"If you go to the Casino, thinking of how much money you will make, you will pretty much end up without a rupee. But when you go with the intention of having fun and wanting to lose the money that you have, you always go back a much richer person. It was actually a big learning experience," he had said.
So when he told his teammates about his decision, he didn't care whether his 106 Test matches could become 107 or for that matter 108. It didn't matter anymore.
この記事は Hindustan Times West UP の December 19, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Hindustan Times West UP の December 19, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Ashwin: Player who never believed in playing it safe
The off-spinner decided to retire from international cricket at the end of the third Test against Australia
Rain plays spoilsport as Test ends in draw
India escaped with a crucial draw in the weather-hit third Test against Australia after intermittent rain wiped out the majority of play on Day 5, leaving the five-match series tantalisingly locked at 1-1.
INDIA TO FACE PAK IN INAUGURAL KHO KHO WORLD CUP OPENER ON JAN 13
Hosts India will face arch rivals Pakistan in the opening match of the inaugural Kho Kho World Cup on January 13, the organisers announced on Wednesday.
With T20I series on line, India look to make amends vs WI
India will look to make amends in all areas and counter the West Indies' power game when the two teams face off in the decider of the women's T20I series on Thursday, with regular skipper Harmanpreet Kaur's participation still shrouded in uncertainty.
Will go to MCG with confidence: Rohit lauds late order fightback
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma hailed the resilience of the lower-order batters after his team managed to salvage a crucial draw in the rain-hit third Test against Australia here on Wednesday, saying it has given the side renewed confidence for the remaining series.
NET DIRECT TAX COLLECTION GROWS 16.45% TILL DECEMBER 17
Net direct tax collection grew 16.45% year-on-year (y-o-y) to over ₹15.82 lakh crore till December 17 this fiscal, buoyed by higher advance tax mop-up, government data showed.
Trump threatens to impose reciprocal tax on India
INDIA'S EXPORTS STOOD AT $77.51 BN, WHILE IMPORTS AGGREGATED AT $42.2 BN IN THE LAST FISCAL
Institutional investments in Indian RE hit peak at $8.87 bn
Institutional investment in Indian real estate (RE) rose 51% to a record $8.87 billion during 2024 as investors look to encash strong demand for housing, office and warehousing properties, according to JLL.
Markets extend losses into third session on foreign fund outflows
Equity benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty stayed on the back foot for the third straight session on Wednesday as investors offloaded utility, capital goods and metal stocks amid foreign fund outflows.
Nissan and Honda consider merger
Honda Motor Co. and Nissan Motor Co. are exploring a merger, according to people familiar with the matter, that would create a singular rival to Toyota Motor Corp. in Japan and better position the combined company to face competitive challenges around the world.
