Ravichandran Ashwin Announces International Cricket Retirement After 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy

The announcement was made in this city today; with him declaring here, one of the most feted spin-bowling all-rounders-Ravichandran Ashwin-seems poised to shut down the curtains on his third and final test for the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It is learnt that this was a poignant decision by a 38-year-old made public on December 18, 2024 at a press conference ending an innings at the top-most echelon of this game which had stretched well beyond a decade. Ashwin is going to bid goodbye as he remains a part of the team going to tour Australia for the national cricketing squad.

Ashwin started his international cricket in the year 2010 for ODI against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, and a year later in 2011 against West Indies, he made his debut in Test. The very moment he took nine wickets of a match and an unforgettable six-wicket haul against West Indies on debut, everyone got a glimpse of him. That was just the beginning of what was going to become a legendary career for Indian cricket as Ashwin soon turned out and became a name for expertise, brains, and a bowler who could perform well in all circumstances.

Ashwin would emerge as one of the games' most versatile bowlers, with whom it can easily turn the game around using wizardry with spin alone. It is not just that he was bowling alone, and handy batting skills made him such an all-rounder valuable for India. Ashwin last featured in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2022. He played a huge role in India's victory against Pakistan with winning runs in an all-tense match. His composure, clutch performances under pressure have brought him dear to fans everywhere.

Ashwin last played a game of ODI in 2023 while representing India in the first match of the ICC Men's World Cup at his home city M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai where he went out to bat for a 50-over appearance. A product of innovative cricket with the ball, Ashwin has been an automatic inclusion in India's Test squad, especially at home, where he has been wreaking havoc in the opposition camp with sharp spin and guile.

Ashwin's career statistics do not just reflect well on him, but they talk of class. Taking 537 wickets in only 106 Test matches with scoring 3503 runs with six centuries will definitely speak well of match-winning ability and can be described as one of long format with 37 five-wicket hauls. He was also the quickest to 350 Test wickets as he achieved that in just 66 matches-a record does say much about his skill and efficiency.

Ashwin has played 116 ODIs for India and has taken 156 wickets, while in T20Is, he has taken 72 wickets in 65 matches. This explains the extent to which Ashwin made for the game also due to his winning of 11 Player of the Series awards in Test cricket-most any player has won in that format. He represented the Indian team that has brought India the greatest victory in Indian cricket history as both in the 2011 ICC Men's ODI World Cup and also in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India or BCCI paid him a tribute by bringing out a heartfelt message on the social media as Ashwin, in preparation to retire himself from International Cricket.  The post went gaga over the cricketing legacy of a cricketer who redefined an art of spin bowling, taking India's cricket prowess to great heights on the world platform. Ashwin's retirement signaled the sunset of an era for Indian cricket, one characterized by his mastery, enthusiasm, and invaluable services to the past glories of the team. The fans, fellow players, and cricketing experts have recognized the impact of Ashwin, and undoubtedly, he would be remembered as one of the finest cricketers to ever don the Indian jersey.