Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has offered a candid take on the ongoing debate around senior players’ exits from the Test setup, stating that head coach Gautam Gambhir is well within his rights to make tough calls—even if it means moving on from stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
The discussion gained traction after Rohit and Kohli announced their Test retirements in May, following India’s disappointing 1-3 series defeat against Australia. While many fans speculated that the decisions weren’t entirely voluntary and may have been influenced by the team management, Ashwin’s recent remarks have added a fresh perspective to the narrative.
Speaking at the RevSportz Conclave, Ravichandran Ashwin reflected on his own mid-series retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and acknowledged the realities of team transition.
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“If somebody has to have angst against Gautam, it is me, right? I come out on his second or third tour as coach. Gautam, the coach, has a job to do for me in many ways and even if he thought that I must move on, or Virat must move on, or Rohit must move on, it is okay; it is fine because he has a job to do,” Ravichandran Ashwin said.
His comments underline a broader truth about elite sport—selection decisions are often driven by long-term vision rather than sentiment.
“And at that particular instance, if I felt bitter about it, that is also okay because it is my emotion. But if you detach yourself from that, it is clear to me that he has a job to do and maybe I don’t have a future in his regime,” he added.
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Ashwin’s own exit, which came after the Gabba Test draw, had sparked debate. Having been rotated in and out of the XI during the series, he eventually called time on a decorated career, finishing as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests. In many ways, his remarks reflect acceptance—of change, of leadership calls, and of the inevitable transition every team must undergo.
