India’s ace off-spinner R.Ashwin announced his retirement. That is something unexpected. On 18th December 2024, after the third test against Australia (which resulted in a Draw), in the press conference, Ravichandran Ashwin came with Rohit Sharma and announced his International retirement, mentioning that he would no longer continue as an Indian cricketer. But we will be able to see him in franchise games. After the announcement, he did not face any questions from the media. But Rohit Sharma confirmed that he is very sure about the retirement 

During the press conference, Ashwin stated t: “I won’t take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an Indian cricketer.”
No one was able to see that coming. ICC wished him for his contribution to the cricket

A Look Back at Ashwin’s Career

He is considered one of the top all-rounders in first-class cricket, He has played 106 Tests, in which he has taken 537 wickets, 37 five-wicket hauls, and 8 ten-wicket match hauls. He has also taken 100+ Wickets in the WTC. As an all-rounder, he has also backed team India with his bats with 6 Test centuries, a double of 3000+ runs
Notable milestones: Fastest to 300 Test wickets in 54 matches, leading wicket-taker in World Test Championship (195 wickets).

He was a genius with the balls and the stats showed it all. He has played 116 One Day Internationals (ODIs)in which he has taken 156 wickets. And 65 T20 Internationals (T20Is) in which he has taken 72 wickets.

There is no need to read a long text to understand that he is an incredibly talented player: he has received multiple awards individually. Ashwin has 11 Test Series awards for Man of the Series indicating his potential to be a match-winner in several series. Held as the ICC’s premier ranked all-rounder at his time, he may be better defined as the archetypal type of contemporary cricket–a cricketer capable of affecting the game both as a bowler and a batsman. Ashwin’s impact is not just about statistics but about how he changed the perception of an all-rounder, a strategist on test cricket, or cricket in general.

Reactions from the Cricketing World

Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58): “Congratulations to @ashwinravi99 on a stellar international career. Your contributions to cricket have been immense. Best wishes for what’s next.”

Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha): “Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an era. A master of his craft and a thinker of the game. Cricket will miss you, @ashwinravi99.”

Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan): “One of the best off-spinners to have played the game. Congrats on a fantastic career, @ashwinravi99. Enjoy your next chapter.”

Will this decision affect India in the WTC? What is your Opinion? write in the comments…
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