Legendary cricketer and India's star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his decision to retire from international cricket on Wednesday. At India's post-match press conference in Brisbane on Wednesday, the 38-year-old Chennai player, who participated in the second Test match against the Baggy Greens, made his decision public. Many cricket enthusiasts and analysts were taken aback by Ashwin's decision to retire from international cricket.
Ashwin did not want to take part in BGT
As per a report from the news agency PTI, Ashwin was no longer willing to travel to Australia for the current five-match Test series between Australia and India. According to the report, Ashwin, who finished his career with 537 wickets in 106 Test matches, decided to abruptly retire after being passed over for two of the three games played by India's head coach Gautam Gambhir. He did not want to tour Australia unless he was assured a place in the starting lineup.
"It is understood that retirement had been on Ashwin’s mind following India’s shocking 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand. The legendary off-spinner had conveyed to the team management that he would not travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy unless guaranteed a spot in the playing XI," the report read.
"India’s decision to play Washington Sundar ahead of Ashwin in the Perth Test seemed to be the tipping point. Although Ashwin returned for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide at Rohit Sharma’s insistence, Ravindra Jadeja was preferred for the subsequent Brisbane Test. As Rohit stated after the drawn third Test in Gabba, the squad’s composition for the final matches in Melbourne and Sydney remained uncertain."
"The decision to omit Ashwin for Washington Sundar in Perth appeared to have been taken in Rohit’s absence, with coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly having a significant say. By the time Rohit linked up with the team, he had to persuade Ashwin to play in Adelaide," the report further stated.
Rohit on Ashwin's retirement
After Ashwin was unable to participate in the series opener, which India won by 295 runs in Perth last month, Indian captain Rohit Sharma told media in Brisbane on Wednesday that Ashwin was prepared to retire. However, he managed to persuade Ashwin to participate in the pink-ball Test, which took place from December 6–8 at the Adelaide Oval.
"When I arrived in Perth, this was a chat we had, and I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink-ball Test match. Then after that, it just happened. He (Ashwin) felt that if I am not needed right now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the game," said Rohit in the post-match press conference.
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