Bhubaneswar: Following the draw in the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, India’s off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Wednesday announced retirement from all formats of cricket with immediate effect, marking the end of a stellar 14-year international career.
He will be leaving for India on Thursday.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to express that and probably showcase that in club-level cricket, but this will be the last day [for India],” Ashwin told a presser after the Brisbane Test.
He also spoke about creating a lot of memories alongside Rohit Sharma and other team mates. “We’re the last bunch of OGs, if we can say that, left out in the dressing room, and . I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level,” he, while thanking BCCI and the fellow team mates.
He named Rohit, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara for having taken splendid catches which got him the wickets over the years.
Ashwin is the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 dismissals in 106 matches, behind Anil Kumble’s 956 scalps.The 38-year-old is fifth and third on the ICC Test rankings for bowlers and allrounders respectively. His 37 five-wicket hauls is joint-second best in Test history alongside Shane Warne, only behind the legendary Muttiah Muralitharan (67).
Ashwin also made valuable contributor with the bat, scoring 3503 Test runs, which include six centuries and 14 fifties. He is among the only 11 all-rounders to achieve the remarkable milestone of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Test cricket. He also won a record 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, level with Muthiah Muralidaran.
He also played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is.
Ashwin was bought by Chennai Super Kings for Rs 9.75 crore at the mega auction last month, and will be playing for them in IPL 2025.
