Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket today, and tributes are pouring in. In an emotional social media post, former Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar honoured the seasoned off-spinner and discussed his 14-year career in international cricket.
In Adelaide, during the second Test match of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy, Ravichandran Ashwin played his final match for India. Ashwin made the decision to retire right away after being excluded from the Gabba Test and likely being told of the potential lineup for the final two Tests.
Tendulkar gave the Chennai-born spinner a lot of respect, claiming that the offfie always managed to trick batters. He went on to say that Ashwin’s greatness stemmed from his willingness to try new things.
“Ashwin, I’ve always respected the way you played the game with your heart and head in perfect harmony. You always managed to win, whether it was by honing the carrom ball or by making important runs.
It has been amazing to watch you develop from a bright young player to one of India’s best match-winners. Your story demonstrates that real excellence comes from never being scared to try new things and change.
Everyone will be inspired by your legacy. Tendulkar posted on X (previously Twitter) that he wished him luck in his second innings.
Ashwin, I’ve always admired how you approached the game with your mind and heart in perfect sync. From perfecting the carrom ball to contributing crucial runs, you always found a way to win.
Watching you grow from a promising talent to one of India’s finest match-winners has been… pic.twitter.com/XawHfacaUh— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 18, 2024
A look at Ravichandran Ashwin amazing career
Ashwin has undoubtedly had more successful periods in Test cricket over his international career, taking 537 wickets and scoring 3503 runs in 106 games. Aside from that, he boasts impressive white-ball statistics, with 156 ODI and 72 T20I wickets. Both the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy were won by Indian teams that included the 38-year-old.
With 310 T20 wickets, Ashwin is the third-highest Indian wicket-taker. He has undoubtedly been successful in every game format.