New Delhi: Was this retirement anticipated, or does it come as a surprise? If I had to pick one term, it’s a real shock. It seems completely unexpected, mainly because the selectors didn’t make the call about Ashwin. As Rohit Sharma pointed out, and Ravichandran Ashwin himself confirmed, this was a personal choice. Clearly, it’s a decision that has come straight from the off-spinner.
When does an athlete decide it’s time to step away? Typically, it happens when they feel unnecessary, think they can no longer make an impact, or realize their skills are diminishing. However, in reality, even now, in a nation of 1.4 billion, Ashwin is undeniably the top red-ball spinner and far superior to the competition. This assessment is based purely on his current performance, not on his past achievements to justify a longer career.
The truth is, even if Ashwin were a young player vying with other spinners in the country and some of whom are in the current team, he would still be recognized as India’s top red-ball spinner.
So, when someone at the peak of their powers decides to retire, it leaves you stunned.
The love we give away is the only love we keep. pic.twitter.com/kfkGjGfNE7
— Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) December 18, 2024
When Roger Federer retired or when Rafael Nadal revealed his intention to retire, it was because they had reached the conclusion of their careers. They were struggling with physical issues and understood they could no longer perform at the elite level. However, this is not the situation with Ashwin at the moment. Just take a look at his most recent Test match for India, a week ago in Adelaide. Although he didn’t claim many wickets, it’s important to remember it was a pink-ball Test with conditions that heavily favoured fast bowlers. Even so, Ashwin still made an impression as a spinner.
Under these circumstances, if he still decides to retire, there’s no word other than “shock” to describe it.
Now, let’s consider another angle of this decision that doesn’t quite make sense. Ashwin holds the second spot on the list for most Test wickets by an Indian, with only the legendary Anil Kumble ahead of him. How often do we hear about players aiming for records? We’ve talked about Virat Kohli’s ambition to break Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 100 centuries. Wasn’t Ashwin also pursuing the goal of becoming India’s leading Test wicket-taker? After all, Anil Kumble is only 82 wickets ahead of him. Given the kind of form Ashwin has shown lately, it’s easy to picture him being part of another World Test Championship cycle. A few more years in Test cricket, and it wouldn’t have been unrealistic to see him surpass “Jumbo.”
What took R Ashwin to decide to retire?
So, what prompted this sudden retirement? Without an official statement from Ashwin himself, we can only speculate. However, the situation surrounding his exclusion from the team can’t be overlooked. Ashwin has endured considerable frustration in recent years, often being left out of the playing XI despite his solid form. It’s difficult to believe that this didn’t influence his decision. What must have been most painful is the repeated choice by different coaches and captains to keep him sidelined, especially in overseas Tests. Perhaps the events in Australia were the final trigger.
Ashwin made his debut in 2011, but one can’t help but think: if he had started his career a decade earlier, when traditional Test cricket valued core skills over multi-faceted players, he might have played far more matches than he did. In the past, the approach was simple: white-ball cricket favored all-rounders, but Test cricket focused on specialists. Exceptional batsmen or bowlers were always selected. Unfortunately, this mindset seems to have changed within the Indian team setup.
Consider Australia, specifically Nathan Lyon. Both Lyon and Ashwin are off-spinners of comparable ability, yet Lyon has consistently been a part of Australia’s playing XI, regardless of recent performances or conditions. Unfortunately, Ashwin hasn’t been afforded the same treatment in India. Over the last ten years, India hasn’t always selected its top spinner, often choosing one who could also make a contribution with the bat instead.
Minor details in recent series, such as Jadeja’s crucial runs in Brisbane and Sundar being chosen ahead of Ashwin in Perth, might have played a role in pushing him towards this ultimate choice. Ultimately, the nation’s finest red-ball spinner decided to retire—not due to a decline in form, but while still performing at his peak. This is a blow that Indian cricket must shoulder.
