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- Published: December 18, 2024 15:07
New Delhi: Team India’s hard-fought draw at the Gabba has been a mixed bag of emotions for the entire side. While on one hand, the team rejoiced at what has been touted as the replica of the ‘Great Escape’ like that of Sydney, the sudden retirement of Ashwin in the ongoing series has made the win a bit more emotional and nostalgic for the entire side.
The sudden retirement decision of Ashwin has left everyone the coaching staff as well as former Indian cricketers bewildered. Ashwin announced in the post-match press conference along with skipper Rohit Sharma after the game ended in a draw.
Ashwin played the second match of the five-Test series in Adelaide but was replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for the match in Brisbane. Ashwin retires from the game as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets).
The right-arm spinner will continue to play in the T20Is where he will represent the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025. Ashwin was visibly emotional when he appeared in the post-match conference after the draw in Gabba:
I won’t take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an India cricketer…
The ‘dominator’ with the ball…
Ravichandran Ashwin has been a match-winner for Team India over the years not only in red ball but also in white ball.
In the white-ball format, Ashwin made 181 appearances and snatched 228 wickets. He made 116 ODI appearances and took 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with best figures of 4/25. He also made 707 runs at an average of 16.44, with one fifty, a knock of 65 in 63 innings. He is the 13th-highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India.
In 65 T20Is, he took 72 wickets at an average of 23.22. His best figures are 4/8. He also scored 184 runs in 19 innings at an average of 26.28, with best score of 31. He is the sixth-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is.
With 765 scalps in 287 matches, he is India’s second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, next to Kumble (953). He also won the 2011 50-Over World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy with India.
