Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s finest cricketers of this generation, shocked the sports world with his sudden retirement announcement following the third Test against Australia in Brisbane. Ashwin, who retires as India’s second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, didn’t even have the opportunity for a farewell match, choosing instead to step away from the international stage. While various theories have surfaced regarding his exit, former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath has revealed that Ashwin had been unhappy for some time.
Badrinath expressed his shock over Ashwin’s retirement, particularly the timing and manner in which it happened. He believes Ashwin was not treated fairly by the team management.
“I am shocked. Honestly, I don’t think he was treated the way he deserved to be. Rohit Sharma mentioned that Ashwin wanted to retire after the Perth Test, and he was upset when Washington Sundar was preferred over him. That clearly shows he wasn’t happy,” Badrinath said during a conversation on Star Sports Tamil.
“Let me be clear—this is a significant statement, especially coming from a cricketer from Tamil Nadu. There are many reasons for this. Players from certain other states often receive better opportunities. Despite all these challenges, Ashwin went on to take more than 500 wickets and became a legend,” he added.
Badrinath also suggested that there were attempts to ‘sideline’ Ashwin, but the spinner consistently made a strong comeback. However, when Washington Sundar was favored over him, Ashwin decided it was time to part ways with the team.
“Imagine what he must have gone through. I know he faced a lot. On several occasions, there were efforts to push him aside, but each time, he rose like a phoenix,” Badrinath remarked.
After the Brisbane Test, Ashwin chose not to stay with the team and returned home. Upon his arrival in Chennai, the legendary spinner expressed that he had no regrets about his decision to retire.
