Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s greatest spinners, recently announced his retirement from international cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable 14-year career. With a tally of 765 wickets across all formats, Ashwin has played a key role in many of India’s memorable victories. His decision to retire came as a surprise to many, especially considering it was made during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25) in Australia.
Reflecting on his career, the 38-year-old off-spinner admitted that his decision to retire was instinctive, and he walked away from the game with no regrets. Following his retirement announcement, Ashwin shared that he received congratulatory calls from cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev, an experience that left him humbled.
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He remarked that if someone had told him 25 years ago that he’d have a smartphone and receive calls from these icons on his last day as an Indian cricketer, he would have been in disbelief. Sharing a screenshot of his call log on social media, Ashwin expressed his gratitude, writing, “Thanks Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev paaji #blessed.”
If some one told me 25 years ago that I would have a smart phone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this☺️☺️, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks @sachin_rt and @therealkapildev paaji🙏🙏 #blessed pic.twitter.com/RkgMUWzhtt
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) December 20, 2024
Ashwin’s announcement did spark some controversy, particularly after his father claimed that his son had faced humiliation within the team. Ashwin, however, brushed aside the remarks, attributing them to “dad statements.” He made it clear that he had no ill feelings about his decision to retire and that it was entirely his own.
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Before Ashwin’s retirement, former cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar had praised the spinner for his adaptability and evolution as a cricketer. Tendulkar took to social media to congratulate Ashwin, describing his growth from a promising talent to one of India’s finest match-winners. “Your journey shows that true greatness lies in never being afraid to experiment and evolve,” Tendulkar wrote, highlighting Ashwin’s ability to consistently innovate and contribute, both with the ball and the bat.
