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India legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a dig at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and selectors for not considering him for the captaincy role for the international side. Ashwin shocked all the cricket enthusiasts after announcing his sudden retirement on December 18 after the third Test match of Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 ended in a draw due to persistent rain at Gabba.
Ashwin who played 287 international matches in his career where he picked up 765 international wickets has captained his state team in age-group cricket and at the first-class level. He also led Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for two seasons—2018 and 2019.
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However, he never got a chance to lead India in Test cricket. He was not even recognised with the vice-captaincy role in the longest format of the game.
"It's interesting. I am smart enough to know what works for me and what doesn't for another person. When I started my career, I got first-class captaincy very early. I have won a few tournaments for my team. I believe I had it in me. But I did not have any regret that I didn't go on to lead my country because these are not things that I can control," Ashwin told Sky Sports Podcast as quoted IndiaToday.
"I have realised somebody needs to feel that I am good enough to lead the team, I need to get another 15-20 people to come along with me for me to be able to lead the team. It wasn't meant for me in this particular chapter of my life.
"I don't think this office or corporate felt I was good enough to lead the team. That doesn't mean I am not good enough for leadership. Leadership, you don't need a title to do that because, within me, I was a great leader in that group to be able to contribute to other people's success. I looked out for zones of contribution. I did it to the best of my ability," he added.
"I do not have regrets, but I do think it would have been something I would have enjoyed," he added.
Ashwin's Test career
The legendary spinner made his Test debut in 2011 and he represented India in 106 matches where he picked up 537 wickets. Ashwin is the second cricketer to take five or more wickets in an innings 37 times. He ended his career as India's second-highest wicket-taker. Apart from taking wickets, Ashwin scored 3503 in the longest format of the game.
Ashwin's ODI career
Ravichandran Ashwin has played 116 ODIs for India where he picked up 156 wickets and scored 707 runs. The legendary spinner was the part of MS Dhoni-led 2011 ODI World Cup-winning team. He last played an ODI for India in 2023 during India's ODI World Cup opener clash against Australia.
Ravichandran Ashwin's T20I career
Ashwin has played 65 T20Is where he picked up 72 wickets including 2 four wicket hauls. Apart from bowling Ashwin also contributed with bat scoring 184 runs. Ashwin played a crucial role for India during their opening clash of the T20 World Cup 2022 against Pakistan. The star cricketer took a single in a high tense situation at Melbourne Cricket Ground that helped the Men in Blue to defeat the arch-rivals by four wickets (with 0 balls remaining).
Soon after announcing his retirement after the third Test match, Ashwin travelled back to India and BCCI announced Tanush Kotian as Ashwin's replacement for the final two Tests of the series. The five-Test match series between two Test rivals is currently levelled at 1-1 as the third Test ended in a draw. Now, both India and Australia will look to win the fourth Test match to shift the momentum of the series. Winning the ongoing series is important for both teams to seal their spot in the World Test Championship (WTC) final which is scheduled to take place in England next year.
