R Ashwin Announces Retirement from International Cricket
Indian cricket team’s star spinner, R Ashwin, has announced his retirement from international cricket. He shared the news during a post-match press conference with captain Rohit Sharma after the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, which ended in a draw.
Ashwin retires as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 wickets in 106 matches, only behind Anil Kumble, who has 619 wickets.
A Legendary Career Across Formats
Ashwin played a key role in India’s success in Test cricket, especially from 2014 to 2019. Apart from his Test achievements, he also had an impressive career in white-ball cricket:
- One Day Internationals (ODIs): Played 116 matches, taking 156 wickets with a best performance of 4/25. He also scored 707 runs, including one half-century.
- T20 Internationals (T20Is): Played 65 matches, taking 72 wickets with a best performance of 4/8. He also contributed 184 runs.
Across all formats, Ashwin took a total of 765 wickets in 287 matches, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker overall, again behind Kumble (953 wickets).
Ashwin was part of India’s victorious squads in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy, cementing his place as one of India’s greatest bowlers.
Emotional Farewell
In his farewell speech, Ashwin said, “This is my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats. I feel I still have some cricket left in me, and I will continue playing at the club level. I want to thank the BCCI, my teammates, coaches, and especially the Australian cricket team, who have been fierce competitors.”
Ashwin also expressed his desire to stay connected to the sport in new ways. He will continue playing in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the TNPL for the Dindigul Dragons.
Recently, CSK bought Ashwin for INR 9.75 crore in the IPL mega auction, and he will represent them in IPL 2025.
Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an era for Indian cricket, leaving behind a legacy of skill, passion, and remarkable achievements. Thank you, Ashwin, for the memories!
