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Ravichandran Ashwin announced retirement from international cricket right after the rain-hit third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba in Brisbane which ended in a draw. A key player for Team India over the past 14 years, Ashwin shared the news at the post-match press conference today alongside Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
"This will be my last day as an India international cricketer. I've had a lot of fun. I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my teammates" he said, nearly in tears.
Meanwhile, Ashwin's contributions to Indian cricket remain unparalleled and his skills and records have earned him a place among the greatest cricketers in India's history, with a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
Ravichandran Ashwin's cricketing debut
Ravichandran Ashwin began playing cricket at a young age and started his domestic career with Tamil Nadu in 2006. The cricketing legend made his IPL debut for Chennai Super Kings on April 18, 2009, and entered the international arena with an ODI debut for India on June 5, 2010, against Sri Lanka with a Test debut coming later on November 6, 2011, against the West Indies.
Early career
Ravichandran Ashwin's early career was marked by several notable achievements. However, he made a significant impact in Test cricket even on his debut on November 6, 2011, against the West Indies, where he took nine wickets and scored a century in the series.
A major highlight of his early career was the 2013 series against Australia, where he led India to a 4-0 victory, taking 29 wickets and winning the Man of the Series award.
The biggest achievements of Ravichandran Ashwin
With 537 wickets in 106 Tests, R Ashwin is India's second-highest wicket-taker in the format, only behind Anil Kumble. Further, his career also boasts 156 ODI and 72 T20I wickets alongside a stellar 3503 Test runs, including six centuries and 14 fifties. Also, his count of 37 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket is joint-second best alongside Shane Warne, and only behind M Muralitharan's tally of 67.
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Test Wickets and Matches: Ashwin has taken 537 wickets in 106 Test matches, making him India's second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, only behind Anil Kumble.
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Batting Achievements in Tests: Ashwin has scored 3,151 runs in Test cricket, including five centuries and 13 fifties.
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Five-Wicket Hauls: His 37 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket place him joint-second alongside Sir Richard Hadlee, behind Muttiah Muralitharan's 67.
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ICC Rankings: As of December 2024, Ashwin holds the top spot in the ICC men's player rankings for bowlers and is the highest-rated Indian bowler in Test cricket history.
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All-Rounder Milestone: He is one of only three players to have both scored over 3,000 runs and taken over 500 wickets in Test cricket.
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Player of the Series Awards: Ashwin has won 11 Player of the Series awards in Tests, tying with Muttiah Muralitharan for the most.
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Test Wicket-Taker Ranking: He ranks seventh among the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket and is the highest wicket-taking off-spinner in Tests.
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Five-Wicket Hauls at Home: Ashwin has 27 five-wicket hauls in home Tests, the second-most for any bowler.
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Fastest to 350 Test Wickets: He is the fastest bowler to reach 350 Test wickets in terms of number of innings.
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Dismissals of Left-Handed Batsmen: Ashwin holds the record for dismissing the most left-handed batsmen in Test cricket, with 268 dismissals.
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Century and Five-Wicket Haul in Same Test: He holds the Indian record for the most instances (4) of scoring a century and taking a five-wicket haul in the same Test.
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Fastest to 400 Test Wickets: Ashwin was the second-fastest bowler to register 400 wickets in Test cricket.
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Wickets Against England: He has taken 91 Test wickets at home against England, the most for an Indian bowler against any opponent.
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World Test Championship: Ashwin was the first bowler to reach 100 wickets in the World Test Championship and is its highest wicket-taker with 195 wickets.
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IPL Achievements: Ashwin played for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL, where he won two titles (2010, 2011) and was named Player of the Series in 2010.
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ODI World Cup: He was part of India's 2011 World Cup-winning squad.
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Champions Trophy: Ashwin played a key role in India's 2013 Champions Trophy victory.
Ravichandran Ashwin retirement
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on December 18, 2024, following the drawn third Test match against Australia in Brisbane.
A visibly emotional Ashwin was seen sharing an embrace with Virat Kohli in the dressing room, sparking speculation before the official announcement. Despite retiring from international cricket, Ashwin will continue to play in T20 leagues, including the IPL.
Meanwhile, Ashwin’s retirement decision, which easily shattered the hearts of millions of his fans, also comes at a somewhat troubling phase for the Indian team, following a series defeat to New Zealand and an inconsistent batting performance in the ongoing series in Australia.
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Incidentally, he was left out of the playing XI in recent Tests, having played in only one of the three Border-Gavaskar Trophy matches in the current edition, with Ravindra Jadeja often replacing him due to his all-round capabilities.
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Despite the challenges, Ashwin's contributions to Indian cricket remain unparalleled and his skills and records have earned him a place among the greatest cricketers in India's history, with a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.
