Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from international cricket, effective immediately.
Ashwin, who played in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide but was not selected for the next match in Brisbane, announced his decision at a post-match press conference on Wednesday afternoon, but did not take questions from media.
“I didn’t want to make this about myself,” Ashwin told reporters after play was abandoned on day five, with the Brisbane Test ending in a draw.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to showcase that in club level cricket.
“I’ve had a lot of fun, I’ve created a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and other teammates, even if I have lost some of them over the last few years. We are the last bunch of OGs [originals].
“There are a lot of people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] and fellow teammates.
Ravichandran Ashwin (centre) has announced his shock retirement from Test cricket.Credit: Getty
“Most importantly, Rohit, Virat [Kohli], Ajinkya [Rahane], [Cheteshwar] Pujara who’ve taken that many catches around the bat to give me the number of wickets I’ve managed to get over the years. Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team who’ve been very fierce competitors. I’ve enjoyed my time playing against them.
“It’s truly a very emotional moment. I don’t think I’m in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way. So please pardon me for that.
“Thanks for being the journalists that you’ve been – writing good things and, of course, writing nasty things on occasions. That’s a relationship I think we would maintain forever.
“I might go on to be involved with the game because this is a game that’s given me everything.”
Ashwin will end his career with 537 Test wickets at an average of 24. Only six players have taken more wickets in Tests: Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), Jimmy Anderson (704), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604) and Glenn McGrath (563).
In 23 Tests against Australia, Ashwin took 115 wickets at 28.58.
More to come
