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Legendary India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed that he wanted to retire from international cricket around age of 34-35, instead of going on and casting his spell till 38. The veteran spinner's retirement came in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. Ashwin shocked everyone by calling it a day from international cricket after the third Test match of the series at the iconic Gabba Stadium in Brisbane was ended in a draw.
"In my head, I decided that I would retire at 34-35. I think it was just the time, and where I stood in my life, right? I think I was pretty old, I must admit. But going on tours, and you know, having to just sit out a lot more, eventually got to me," said Ashwin on his YouTube Channel on the 'Kutti Stories with Ash' Show.
Ashwin also believes that sometimes leaving a situation and taking a break can reignite your passion and motivate you to return.
"Sometimes, being there in a certain situation and withdrawing yourself, giving yourself a break from the whole environment, can trigger your passion once again to come back," Ashwin added.
"I mean, not in terms of not wanting to contribute to the team, but you're thinking if I would rather be at home, spending time with children. They are also growing up, and what am I actually doing?," he concluded.
Ashwin played 106 Tests for India where he picked up 537 wickets at an average of 24.00, with best figures of 7/59. He claimed 37 five-wicket hauls and eight ten-wicket match hauls in his Test career.
He ended his campaign as the eighth-highest wicket-taker in Tests overall and the second-highest for India, behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). Ashwin also holds the record for the second-most five-wicket hauls in Tests, trailing only Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (67).
Ashwin also amassed 3,503 runs at an average of 25.75, including six centuries and 14 fifties in 151 innings, with a highest score of 124.
Ashwin played 116 ODIs and picked up 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with best figures of 4/25. He also scored 707 runs at an average of 16.44, including one fifty, a knock of 65 in 63 innings.
He is the 13th-highest wicket-taker for India in the format. Across all formats, Ashwin took 765 wickets in 287 matches, making him India's second-highest wicket-taker after Anil Kumble (953 wickets).
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