Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to announce his retirement may have seemed sudden, but it was a move that had been anticipated for some time. The discussion first emerged during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home, and with the next series approaching, Ashwin appears to have made up his mind, particularly due to ongoing issues with his troublesome knee.
It is understood that before Ravichandran Ashwin flew to Australia for the Test series, he informed his family that he was considering retirement from international cricket. While no final decision was made at that time, his family advised him to think it through, and Ashwin indicated he would make a decision after seeing how things unfolded in Australia. On Tuesday night, he informed his family that December 18 would be his last day in international cricket.
As skipper Rohit Sharma mentioned upon arriving in Perth, Ashwin had a lengthy discussion about retirement before the second Test in Adelaide. While he was in contention to play in Brisbane, Ravindra Jadeja was preferred. At the Gabba, Ashwin reportedly informed each player individually about his decision to retire mid-series, which came as a surprise. Though Ashwin had a chance to play in Melbourne and Sydney, his decision seemed to have been influenced by the direction the team is currently headed.
Jadeja had a strong performance in Brisbane, and with Washington Sundar also emerging as a promising off-spinner, India appears to have a ready replacement for Ashwin, though Sundar’s style is quite different.
A couple of years left in him
At 38, when the Test season began with the home series against Bangladesh – where he was awarded Man of the Series – Ashwin appeared to have at least a couple more years of international cricket ahead. However, with India lacking immediate red-ball commitments, his uncertain role as a starter in overseas conditions, and ongoing knee issues, Ashwin decided it was time to retire, 18 months after first contemplating the idea.
Ashwin is scheduled to return home on Thursday, and as he mentioned, there is a strong possibility he will continue playing in domestic tournaments. In the past, he has expressed his dream of winning the Ranji Trophy, and with Tamil Nadu still in contention for the play-offs, there is a chance he could don the whites again. If not in domestic cricket, the IPL, where he is set to rejoin the Chennai Super Kings, could serve as his grand farewell.
