Australia’s Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins shared a heartfelt moment with Ravichandran Ashwin after the Indian spinner announced his retirement from international cricket. In a touching gesture, the Australian duo presented Ashwin with a signed Australian shirt in the halls of the Gabba, just hours after his emotional announcement.
Both Cummins and Lyon expressed their admiration for Ravichandran Ashwin’s remarkable career, with Cummins saying, “Well done, mate, thank you, you have been a hell of a cricketer,” while wishing him all the best for his next phase.
Ravichandran Ashwin, a stalwart of Indian cricket, made history with his exceptional performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he became the leading wicket-taker for India, surpassing Harbhajan Singh’s previous record. With 114 wickets in the series, he also set the record for the most wickets taken in a single Border-Gavaskar series, with 29 wickets during India’s victorious 2020-21 campaign in Australia.
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In his retirement announcement, Ashwin expressed his pride in his career, acknowledging his desire to continue playing at the club level. He fondly reflected on his time with teammates, particularly with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, and Cheteshwar Pujara, thanking them for their support, including their crucial slip catches that helped him take numerous wickets.
“I have had a lot of fun. I’ve created many memories,” Ravichandran Ashwin said at the press conference, emphasizing the joy of his journey with the team. Ashwin’s cricketing career, spanning over a decade, is filled with notable achievements. His Test debut came in 2011 against the West Indies, and he quickly became an integral part of India’s bowling attack.
Pat Cummins & Nathan Lyon gave an Australian Jersey to Ravi Ashwin signed by all Australian Players❤️🥹 pic.twitter.com/j2Yfc5hSjb
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) December 18, 2024
Ashwin’s versatility, particularly his ability to take wickets on turning Indian pitches, set him apart. He was pivotal in several key series victories, including the historic 2013 series against Australia and the 2021 win over England. In addition to his bowling prowess, Ashwin proved a valuable lower-order batsman, scoring six Test centuries and over 3,500 runs.
Ashwin’s legacy also includes his contributions to India’s triumphs in major tournaments, such as the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy, where his brilliant figures of 2/15 in the final helped secure India’s victory.
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His career was decorated with numerous awards, including the Arjuna Award in 2014 and the ICC Cricketer of the Year award in 2016. With 765 wickets across formats and 537 Test wickets, Ashwin retires as one of India’s greatest cricketers, cementing his legacy as a match-winning legend of Indian cricket.
