Former South African batter Daryll Cullinan did not mince words when criticizing Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to retire midway through the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The Tamil Nadu off-spinner, widely regarded as one of India’s greatest bowlers, ended his career as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket, trailing only Anil Kumble.
Ashwin made the announcement shortly after the third Test against Australia in Brisbane concluded, a game he did not feature in due to being replaced by Ravindra Jadeja. While Ashwin played a pivotal role in the second Test in Adelaide, his absence in Brisbane raised eyebrows. Cullinan expressed strong disapproval of Ashwin’s decision to retire mid-series, calling it both selfish and potentially disruptive.
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“Ashwin should not be retiring or allowed to retire mid-series. It was a selfish move, clearly for reasons he won’t make public. It was a spiteful reaction to not being selected. It can be disruptive to a team mid-series. It was a matter of weeks. He could have retired after Sydney,” Daryll Cullinan told Hindustan Times.
In addition to his comments on Ashwin, Cullinan weighed in on India’s captaincy dynamics. He expressed reservations about fast bowlers leading teams but conceded that Jasprit Bumrah might be a short-term option should Rohit Sharma relinquish the role.
“I’ve never been in favour of fast bowlers being captain. He may be the exception whilst India search for a long-term captain,” Daryll Cullinan added.
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The final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starting January 3. India, trailing 1-2 in the series, face a must-win scenario to retain the prestigious trophy and stay in contention for the World Test Championship final. Victory in Sydney would not only mark a significant comeback but also uphold India’s reputation in the fiercely contested rivalry.
