Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin brought the curtains down on his illustrious international career following the Gabba Test on December 18. Over his 14-year career, Ashwin cemented his legacy as one of the finest off-spinners in cricket, amassing an impressive 765 wickets across 287 matches.
Ashwin’s sudden retirement has left the cricketing world reflecting on the remarkable journey of a player who consistently delivered under pressure. Among those who paid tribute to Ashwin was former India legend Anil Kumble, who currently holds the record for the most Test wickets by an Indian bowler with 619 scalps.
Anil Kumble shared a heartfelt message, commending Ashwin for his incredible contributions to Indian cricket and expressing his disappointment that Ashwin couldn’t surpass his record in Test cricket. Kumble hailed the Chennai-born spinner as a “champion bowler” and a consistent match-winner for the team.
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“Congratulations, Ash, on a fantastic career. You’ve been a champion bowler for India, a champion all-rounder for India. You’ll certainly be missed. It’s not easy carrying that kind of expectation day in and day out, and you’ve done it right throughout your career. You’ve been a match-winner for India, and Team India will miss you,” ANil Kumble said.
As @ashwinravi99 bids farewell to a legendary cricketing journey, the great Anil Kumble showers him with praise for his invaluable contributions to Indian cricket.#AUSvINDOnStar 👉 4th Test | THU, 26th DEC, 4:30 AM only on Star Sports 1! #ToughestRivalry pic.twitter.com/raUzX823Fy
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 18, 2024
He added, “I’m a bit disappointed that you ended your career today at the international level. Ideally, I would have wanted to see you go beyond 619, but you have your reasons for that.” Both Ashwin and Kumble have been standout performers for India, sharing a combined 72 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket.
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Ravichandran Ashwin, who trails only Kumble in Test wickets for India, was just 82 scalps away from overtaking the iconic leg-spinner. Across formats, Kumble leads with 953 international wickets, while Ashwin concludes his international career as India’s second-most prolific wicket-taker. Though Ashwin’s decision to retire has surprised many, his legacy as one of India’s greatest cricketers remains intact.
