The True Tale Behind Ashwin's Retirement:
Ravichandran Ashwin has officially retired from international cricket, leaving behind many stories, and just as many questions. There are several versions of his retirement. One from captain Rohit, stated in a press conference, suggesting Ashwin had already decided to hang up his boots. Another version from Ashwin himself, revealing his desire to showcase his remaining cricketing flair in club-level cricket, such as the IPL 2025 with Chennai Super Kings.
Rumor has it that he informed his family of this decision before the Australian tour commenced. Once the test against Australia at The Gabba concluded in a draw on December 18, and Ashwin announced his retirement, fans were stunned. In Australia, even captain Pat Cummins and spinner Nathan Lyon were taken aback. Sunil Gavaskar remarked that retirement during a series isn't ideal.
Currently back in Chennai after the Melbourne Test, Ashwin told the media on December 19th that he aspires to continue playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL for a long time. However, many questions still surround Ashwin's sudden retirement, which we aim to explore. It's expected that Ashwin will explain this in detail on his YouTube channel.
The question stands: Did 38-year-old Ashwin retire at the right time? Could he no longer secure his place in the team? Was he aware that showcasing his talent in Test cricket for the Indian team was becoming increasingly challenging?
Retiring mid-series is not a new phenomenon; even Dhoni made such a call during the 2014 Australian Test series, while Anil Kumble took a similar decision during a domestic test series in 2008. It's notable that retirements of Ashwin, Dhoni, and Kumble all occurred against Australia 'mid-series'.
During his retirement, Ashwin announced, "This is my last international match as an Indian player, but I still have some punches left in cricket which I'll show at the club level." During this announcement, Ashwin reminisced about catches with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane. Rohit acknowledged Ashwin's decision, mentioning that Ashwin had made up his mind during the Perth Test to bid farewell to cricket.
When Rohit appeared in a press conference, he clarified that Ashwin knew the team combination for the future. Other spinners like Ashwin, Jadeja, and Washington were uncertain about their place in the team, and decisions would depend on pitch conditions.
Rohit emphasized that he convinced Ashwin for the pink-ball test in Adelaide, but shortly after, Ashwin explained, "If the team doesn't need him, he would gladly retire." Rohit concluded by respecting Ashwin's decision.
If Ashwin Hadn't Retired, He Might Not Have Played in Australia:
During the press conference, Rohit frequently discussed pitch conditions, implying team combinations were to be finalized last-minute.
Considering the Australian conditions, there wasn't much room to play with more than one spinner. Even India's choice of spinners varied from match to match. Washington Sundar played in Perth, bowled 17 overs, took 2 wickets, and scored 33 runs, contributing to a victory by 295 runs.
Ashwin played in Adelaide, where India lost by 10 wickets. He bowled 18 overs in the first innings, gave away 53 runs, and trapped Mitchell Marsh.
In The Gabba Test, another change was made, and Ravindra Jadeja replaced Ashwin. Jadeja bowled 23 overs, gave 95 runs, and went wicketless but scored a commendable 77 with the bat.
This pattern shows India's lack of confidence with their spinners during the Australian tour, leading to frequent changes. Ashwin had impressive stats with the pink ball, which is why he was chosen for Adelaide. Furthermore, if Ashwin hadn't retired post-Gabba, there was no guarantee he would have been selected for Melbourne or Sydney.
Overview of Ashwin’s Record in Melbourne and Sydney:
The upcoming two BGT tests are in Melbourne and Sydney. In Melbourne, Ashwin has claimed 14 wickets in 3 tests, along with a batting average of 20.75.
In Sydney, his figures include 182 runs across 3 matches at an average of 36.40 and 7 wickets. His remarkable draw in Sydney 2021 is also remembered.
Despite BGT series being tied 1-1, Australia likely prepared pace-friendly pitches for Sydney and Melbourne. Thus, only one spinner would play.
Ashwin's Retirement Speech Video:
What If Ashwin Played in the June Test Series...
The World Test Championship 2023-25 final is set for June 11-15 at Lord's. If India qualified, Rohit's brigade would likely opt for a single spinner due to the pacer-friendly pitch. Ashwin's next opportunity would have been the England series next summer, starting June 20, 2024. India was scheduled to play 5 test matches, and like in English conditions, only one spinner would be preferable. This posed a challenge for Ashwin regarding his playtime potential.
Ashwin's Overseas Stats Lacked Impact:
Ashwin has an impressive streak having never missed a Test since his debut on November 6, 2011 against West Indies. While his stats were phenomenal on home soil, the same couldn't be said for his overseas matches.
His Home Test Stats
65 Tests, 127 innings, 2938.0 overs, 614 maidens, 383 wickets, 1989 runs, 4 centuries
Ashwin’s Overseas Figures
40 Tests, 71 innings, 1578.0 overs, 283 maidens, 150 wickets, 1485 runs, 2 centuries
His Neutral Venue Performance
1 Test, 2 innings, 25.0 overs, 10 maidens, 4 wickets, 29 runs
(This occurred during the Test in Southampton during the 2021 WTC Final.)
Alternatives to Ashwin on Team India:
In recent years, Ravindra Jadeja has surpassed Ashwin as a test batsman. Washington Sundar has also impressed recently. However, Sundar cannot be directly compared to Ashwin.
Additionally, Test cricket in England, New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia has lately favored playing an extra fast bowler over a spinner at number 8. This resulted in Ashwin, who played every Test since his debut in India, missing many overseas matches.
In the 2023 WTC final, despite being the number 1 all-rounder, Ashwin was benched, with Jadeja taking his place. While not making the playing eleven isn't inherently contentious, it's frustrating for players nearing retirement who wish to play in every match possible, including Ashwin.
Ashwin’s Centuries Ensure an Unbeaten India:
Ashwin exhibited fine form recently against Bangladesh in September with a century (113). Alongside Ravindra Jadeja's 86, he formed a crucial 199-run partnership when India was struggling at 144/6 in the first innings. Later, Ashwin claimed 6 wickets, playing a pivotal role in India's 280-run victory. Interestingly, whenever Ashwin scored a Test century for India, the team never lost the match.
Ashwin’s Test Centuries
103 runs vs. West Indies, Mumbai, 2011 (Draw) 124 runs vs. West Indies, Kolkata, 2013 (Win) 113 runs vs. West Indies, North Sound, 2016 (Win) 118 runs vs. West Indies, St Lucia, 2016 (Win) 106 runs vs. England, Chennai, 2021 (Win) 113 runs vs. Bangladesh, Chennai, 2024 (Win)
Ashwin’s Test Cricket Record:
Bowling - 106 Tests, 537 wickets, best innings bowling 7/59, best match bowling 13/140, average 24.00 Batting - 106 Tests, 151 innings, 3503 runs, highest score 124, average 25.75
Ashwin’s One Day Cricket (ODI) Record:
Bowling: 116 matches, 156 wickets, best bowling 4/25, average 33.20 Batting: 116 matches, 63 innings, 707 runs, highest 65, average 16.44
Ashwin’s T20 International Cricket Record:
Bowling: 65 matches, 72 wickets, best bowling 4/8, average 23.22 Batting: 65 matches, 19 innings, 184 runs, highest 31*, average 26.28
