R Ashwin retired from international cricket after Gabba Test. Photo: BCCI
R Ashwin ended his India career after the Gabba Test match and made his retirement announcement while speaking to the press. The veteran all-rounder was one of the most senior members of the Test team in Australia but he was benched for the series opener. Ashwin played the second game but was benched again. He retired after the third Test.
Ashwin, who made his Test debut in 2011, finished his red-ball career with 537 wickets in 106 matches. He was India's lead spinner for over a decade and at one stage, he looked set to become India's highest wicket-taker. But Ashwin never had such plans.
During an interview, Ashwin revealed that he was a big fan of Anil Kumble and would never break his record. With 619 wickets, Kumble finished his career as India's highest wicket-taker in Tests.
"Definitely not, I am a big fan of Anil Kumble and he has got 619 wickets and, if I get to 618 wickets, I will be very thankful too and, if I get to 618, that will be my last Test match," he told Gulf News in 2017.
Ashwin, who made his Test debut in 2011, was never dropped from the playing XI at home. He played all 56 home Tests since his debut. Ashwin though was never a regular in SENA countries and was often dropped.
One of India's biggest match-winners, Ashwin landed in Australia as the most experienced spinner but he was benched for the first Test match. Washington Sundar played the Perth game ahead of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
India captain Rohit Sharma convinced Ashwin to play the 2nd Test in Adelaide while he was benched for the third game again. A member of the 2011 World Cup-winning team, Ashwin played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is. He became an irregular member of the white-ball teams in 2017 and played very few matches after his return. Ashwin played one match in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Cricket, Sports and around the world.
