New Delhi: Virat Kohli, the former Indian cricket captain, shared his emotional sentiments in response to R Ashwin’s decision to retire from cricket. In a heartfelt message on social media, Kohli paid tribute to the extremely successful off-spinner Ashwin, and wished him all the best for his future journey after hanging up his gloves.
Virat Kohli has highlighted the extraordinary role R Ashwin plays in bagging wins in Test cricket. He believes that the off-spinner will go down in history as a remarkable icon in the realm of Indian cricket.
On a rainy Wednesday, as the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy wrapped up with no clear winner, Ashwin decided to hang up his boots from international cricket.
I’ve played with you for 14 years and when you told me today you’re retiring, it made me a bit emotional and the flashbacks of all those years playing together came to me. I’ve enjoyed every bit of the journey with you ash, your skill and match winning contributions to Indian… pic.twitter.com/QGQ2Z7pAgc
— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 18, 2024
“I have played with you for 14 years and when you told me today you’re retiring, it made me a bit emotional and the flashbacks of all those years playing together came to me. I’ve enjoyed every bit of the journey with you ash, your skill and match-winning contributions to Indian cricket are second to none and you will always and always be remembered as a legend of Indian cricket,” Virat Kohli said in his post.
“Wish you nothing but the best in your life with your family and everything else that it unfolds for you. With massive respect and lots of love to you and your close ones. Thanks for everything buddy,” he added.
During a rain delay at the Gabba in Brisbane, on the Wednesday of December 18, a warm hug was shared between Virat Kohli and R Ashwin. They were caught in a deep talk during the fifth day of the third Test match, stirring some rumors of retirement.
Ashwin promptly put all rumors to bed as he announced his retirement from every form of international cricket, effective immediately after the third Test’s end. He shared this news in a media briefing, with India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, by his side.
During the time when Virat Kohli captained the Test cricket team, R Ashwin elevated himself to the pinnacles of the sport. He succeeded in claiming 293 wickets across 55 Test games, and incredibly, in 21 of those, he managed to take five wickets in a single match.
During Virat Kohli’s tenure as captain from 2014 to 2021, Ashwin played a substantial role in bolstering India’s impressive performance on their home ground.
In 2016, Ashwin was acknowledged with prestigious awards – the ICC Cricketer of the Year and the ICC Test Cricketer of the Year. These accolades marked him as the third Indian to have the honor of receiving the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy, thanks to his remarkable all-round performances throughout the year.
Ashwin has scaled the heights of the ICC Test bowling rankings on many occasions, underscoring his dominance in Test cricket. From the time he first took the number one spot in 2015, Ashwin has consistently reclaimed this position through his impactful performances, notably on home ground pitches in the subcontinent.
