Indian cricket has been in a transition phase over the past eight months, with several stalwarts stepping away from the international arena. One of the biggest names to bid farewell was Ravichandran Ashwin, who shocked fans when he announced his retirement after the drawn third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane last year. Sitting beside then-skipper Rohit Sharma at the press conference, the veteran off-spinner revealed that his time in international cricket had come to an end.

Now months later, Ashwin has shed light on the reasons behind his decision. In a candid chat with former India head coach Rahul Dravid on his YouTube show, the 37-year-old revealed that being benched on overseas tours was a key factor.

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“I was pretty old, I must admit. But going on tours and having to sit out more often eventually got to me,” Ravichandran Ashwin said. “It wasn’t about not wanting to contribute, but I began questioning whether I should rather be at home, spending time with my kids. They are growing up, and I didn’t want to miss those moments. I had always planned to retire around 34–35, and the lack of consistent game time just pushed me towards the decision.”

Ashwin’s numbers underline his greatness. He is only the second Indian bowler, after Anil Kumble, to cross 500 Test wickets. Since making his debut in 2011, he took 383 wickets in 65 home Tests and another 150 wickets in 40 matches away.

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He also bagged four wickets in the 2019–21 World Test Championship final against New Zealand in the UK, his only neutral venue Test. In December last year, Ashwin formally retired from international cricket but assured fans he would remain connected to the game, with continued appearances in the IPL and Tamil Nadu Premier League.