Kolkata, March 17: Former Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin realized it was time to retire from Test cricket when he was overlooked for a younger player, Washington Sundar, during a Test match in Australia. In 2024, Ashwin was not included in the playing XI for the Australia tour, prompting his decision to retire after the series.
During an event in Kolkata on Tuesday, Ashwin candidly discussed the moment he understood his time with the Indian team had come to an end. He stated, “I was the senior bowler in Perth. Vashi (Washington Sundar) played that Test, and I realized my time was up.”
Notably, Ashwin’s retirement decision faced criticism from the team management following the Brisbane Test. This was a period when both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also distanced themselves from the team. There were claims that senior players were being pressured to retire. Head coach Gautam Gambhir faced significant trolling on social media during this time. However, Ashwin dismissed these allegations, expressing support for Gambhir’s approach.
“I like Gautam. People may have different opinions about him, but he is someone who always prioritizes the team over any individual player. He credits the entire team for victories, which I appreciate the most,” Ashwin remarked.
He emphasized the importance of the atmosphere in the Indian dressing room and the need not to rely on a single player, stating, “Indian cricket is not limited to just a few individuals; it is much bigger than that.”
Reflecting on his long association with Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Ashwin highlighted the strong camaraderie and brotherhood among team members during those years. “The best part was that none of us blamed each other for losses. We all wanted India to win and bring glory to our country. We were all motivated by that singular goal,” he said.
Ravichandran Ashwin has played 106 Test matches for India, taking 537 wickets, including 37 instances of claiming five or more wickets in an innings. Sharing his thoughts on the challenges facing the Indian Test team during this transitional phase, he noted, “The team is currently undergoing changes. Playing against spin bowlers is a significant challenge for us, but I believe batting is not as big an issue. I am confident we will develop excellent batsmen in the future. The concern lies in our bowling, which is not as effective.”
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