'R Ashwin Was Not A Match Winner...': Ex-Pakistan Cricketer Drops Bombshell Remark On India Great's Retirement (Source: AP/X)
R Ashwin - one of India's greatest all-rounder, announced his retirement from international cricket after the 3rd Test against Australia at the GABBA. Ashwin ended his career with 537 Test wickets, the second-highest wicket-taker in the format for India, and seventh overall, in addition to six Test hundreds, putting him in the league of legends. He also accounted for 156 and 72 wickets in ODIs and T20Is respectively, taking his wickets tally across formats to 765, which is the second-highest from India and 11th-best in the world.
Meanwhile, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali questioned the timing of Ashwin's retirement. Ali said Ashwin should have taken retirement after the home series against New Zealand, but he if made himself available for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, then he should have waited till the final Test. Ali said Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir should have convinced Ashwin to play the 5th Test in Sydney.
Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar's Heartfelt Message To R Ashwin
"Do you know when Ashwin should have taken retirement? Either he should have taken retirement after Sundar was called for the second Test match against New Zealand. Or he should have taken retirement after these five Test matches. After three Tests, it was a bad decision. Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir should have convinced Ashwin to wait till the 5th Test. He should have been told you are needed in two Test matches and you will obviously be needed in Sydney," he said on his YouTube channel.
Ali, however, praised Ashwin's legacy and tremendous achievements for team India and said the 38-year-old was not a match-winner, but a series-winner for his country.
"Is Ashwin a match-winner? No, Ashwin is not a match-winner, Ashwin is a series winner. He has won the series. If someone plays an innings in T20, then we say that the match winner has arrived. The player who wins the tournament is different and the player who wins the series is different, especially in India. Winning a match by scoring 35 runs in 15 balls is a different thing.
The former Pakistan batsman further said, "Top cricket is red ball cricket. There is Harbhajan, there is Anil Kumble, there is Ashwin, these were series winners."
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