Star Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from International cricket. Rohit Sharma said in the press conference that this decision was in his mind since Perth. He was thinking about this from a long time and he had a chat about this with Rohit Sharma. Ashwin said that if he is not needed off in the series then he will better say goodbye to the game.
This is quite an emotional moment for the Indian spinner as he was also seen involved in long conversation with Virat Kohli.
Nathan Lyon has also given a special message and wished Ashwin best of luck for his future and congratulated him on his successful career. Cheteshwar Pujara, a very dear friend of Ashwin also congratulated him but expressed his shock over this decision and “I wanted see him retire on field.”
Harbhajan Singh also said “It’s very shocking as he took the decision in between the series, I’don’t know what he was thinking. But I would like to tell that he had a great career and he has taken the spin legacy to new heights. I congratulate him for his future and I hope he’ll join us in the panel”
Harbhajan Singh also said “He could’ve easily played for 2-3 more years”.
It is also speculated that Ashwin wanted to play in India vs Australia series but if he is getting benched and not playing then he would rather bid adieu. As mentioned above Rohit Sharma also gave a hint about this while explaining about the conversation he had with Ravichandran Ashwin.
In the press-conference Rohit Sharma has also mentioned “Ashwin is going back home tomorrow”
WATCH- Ravichandran Ashwin Discuss His Retirement Decision With Virat Kohli
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— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 18, 2024
Emotional moments from the Indian dressing room 🥹#AUSvINDOnStar #BorderGavaskarTrophy #Ashwin #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/92a4NqNsyP
Ravichandran Ashwin’s SUDDEN Decision To Announce Retirement
RAVI ASHWIN ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 18, 2024
– An emotional speech by Ash. 🥹❤️pic.twitter.com/ZkVoKVD0m0
What he said: ” I think it would be unfortunate to have me around his side (on sitting with Rohit at the PC), since he has announced I’m not going to take too much of your time, this will be my last year as an Indian cricketer at the international level. There’s a bit left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to exploit it at the domestic and club-level cricket, but this would be the last day (at the international level). I have had a lot of fun, a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates.
We’ve lost some of them over the last few years, we’ve been the last bunch of OGs I can say that are left out in the dressing room. I can mark this as my last day in the dressing room. I have several people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI and my teammates. I want to name a few of them, all the coaches who’ve been part of the journey, most importantly Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya, Pujara, who have taken a number of catches around the bat and have given men a number of wickets that I’ve managed over a number of years.”
Also want to thank the Australian team who’ve been fierce competitors over a number of years, I’ve enjoyed my team playing against them. It’s already getting long, I wouldn’t be taking any questions, truly emotional moments and I’m not in a position to answer any questions in the right manner.
“Once again, thanks for being the journalists you’ve been, for writing good things, and some nasty things at times. It’s a relationship I think we’ll maintain forever and I hope you give the other cricketers the same amount of love that you showered upon me. I’ve stopped as a cricketer, but I’ll go on and be involved with the game, it’s a game which has given me a lot.”
