Want to play, don’t have space in dressing room, Ashwin breaks silence on retirement

Last updated:15 January 2025, 12:07 IST

R Ashwin Breaks Silence On Shock Retirement: Indian cricket team’s star spinner R Ashwin surprised everyone by announcing his/her retirement from international cricket in the middle of the Australia tour. Now this stalwart broke his/her silence regarding this decision and said,…read more

New Delhi. Veteran spinner R Ashwin surprised everyone by suddenly retiring in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy played against Australia. Team India faced a shameful defeat of 1-3 in the series. This has forced Indian cricket and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a deep look at the team’s performance. Many on and off field issues came to light during this tour, the biggest shock of which was Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement in the middle of the series.

Ashwin, one of India’s greatest cricketers, said goodbye to international cricket after the third Test and decided to return home. This decision of 38 year old Ashwin surprised the Indian cricket world. The reason for this was considered to be a sign of tension in the dressing room and differences with the team management. Ashwin spoke openly on this decision and said that it was a spontaneous decision because he/she had lost his/her creativity.

Ashwin said on his/her Hindi YouTube channel ‘Ash Ki Baat’, “I did not play the first Test. Played the second one, did not play the third one. It was possible that I might play next or not. This was a side of my creativity and I was trying to explore it. At that time, I felt that my creativity was over, so it was over, that’s right.”

Ashwin also talked about not playing the farewell Test after his/her sudden retirement and said that it was not something he/she wanted. The experienced off-spinner said that he/she still had cricket left in him/her but he/she was happy that he/she left when people were questioning his/her decision and not when he/she was asked to retire.

Ashwin further said, “What difference would it make if I came out with the ball and people clapped? How long will people talk about it? When there was no social media, people would talk about it and forget it after a week. There is no need for farewell. The game has given us a lot and we have played with great pleasure.

Ashwin wanted to play more
“I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room, but from somewhere else. I want to be honest towards the game. Just think, I want to play the farewell test but I don’t deserve a place. I am only in the team because this is my farewell test. I don’t want that. I felt there was more strength in my cricket. I could have played more but it’s always better when people ask ‘why’ and ‘why not’. One thing I would say is that in our cricket career it may happen that what we wanted may not happen.”