The art of leaving

Ravichandran Ashwin, the quintessential cricketing nerd who bamboozled batters through skill, guile, and acumen, stumped fans around the globe on Wednesday when he retired from international cricket with immediate effect at the end of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane.

- VISHAL MENON

"This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer across formats at the international level," Ashwin said during a press conference after the Brisbane Test.

"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)," he explained.

With 537 wickets from 106 Tests, Ashwin is India's second-highest wickettaker in Test cricket, behind Anil Kumble.

Over 14 years, Ashwin has been instrumental in India becoming a dominant team at home.

The timing of the announcement, almost Dhoni-esque, assumes significance, particularly because it comes in the middle of a high-octane series in Australia.

"If I am not needed right now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the game," Ashwin had told India captain Rohit Sharma before retiring.

The ace off-spinner had made it clear to the team management that if he was not guaranteed a spot in the playing XI during the Australia series, he would not travel for the series Down Under.

Getting the axe in Perth and Brisbane was what broke the proverbial camel's back, some feel.