Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s best spinners, has announced his retirement from international cricket, capping a 14-year career. Ashwin has helped India win many matches with his 765 wickets in all forms. He said that he would have had a heart attack 25 years ago when he received congratulations from cricketing greats Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev after announcing his retirement.
Ashwin’s declaration, which was made during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25) in Australia, surprised a lot of people. The 38-year-old spinner concluded a career that included 106 Test matches, 116 One-Day Internationals, and 65 Twenty20 Internationals during a ten-year timeframe. He said he had no regrets about his choice and that it was an instinct.
However, his father said that Ravichandran Ashwin was humiliated in the squad, which led to controversy surrounding his retirement. The cricket player, however, brushed the remarks off as fatherly remarks. Ashwin expressed his shock at getting calls from two of India’s greatest cricket stars by posting a screenshot of his call log on X (previously Twitter).
If someone had told me twenty-five years ago that I would be carrying a smartphone and that the call log from the final day of my Indian cricket career would look like this, I would have had a heart attack. “God bless you, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev paaji,” Ashwin wrote.
If some one told me 25 years ago that I would have a smart phone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this☺️☺️, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks @sachin_rt and @therealkapildev paaji🙏🙏 #blessed pic.twitter.com/RkgMUWzhtt
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 20, 2024
Hey Ashwin, I’ve always respected the way you played the game: Sachin Tendulkar
Ravichandran Ashwin’s capacity for change and adaptation had previously been commended by former Indian great Sachin Tendulkar. Using his social media account, the former congratulated the footballer on his remarkable career.
“Ashwin, I’ve always respected the way you played the game with your heart and head in perfect harmony. Whether it was mastering the carrom ball or making vital runs, you always managed to win. It has been amazing to watch you develop into one of India’s best match-winners from a promising talent. Your story demonstrates that real greatness comes from never being scared to try new things and change,” Tendulkar replied.
India
