R Ashwin’s Last-Minute Retirement: Wrestling with Knee Troubles and Family’s Counsel Amid Uncertainty.

Ravichandran Ashwin stunned the cricket world on Tuesday with his sudden announcement of retirement from international cricket, made just after the drawn Test match in Brisbane against Australia. The decision left several experts and former cricketers taken aback, with some even questioning the timing of Ashwin’s bold move, given it came in the midst of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. However, a new report suggests that despite the shock, Ashwin had already firmly decided on his retirement, well before revealing it to his teammates and the wider cricket community.

As reported by The Indian Express, Ashwin didn’t make his retirement decision before flying to Perth for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener. However, he did confide in his family about his ongoing struggle with a knee injury and his thoughts of retiring. While his family encouraged him to carefully consider the move, Ashwin assured them that he would only announce it officially after his Australian tour. The report further revealed that, after being dropped from the Brisbane Test following his appearance in the Adelaide pink-ball match, Ashwin had already set a date to announce his retirement—December 18.

“When I reached Perth, we had a conversation about it, and I managed to convince him to stay for the pink-ball Test. After that, things unfolded naturally. He felt that if he wasn’t required for the series, it would be better for him to part ways with the game,” shared the India captain.

Entire Indian dressing room was shocked. Ashwin had a lengthy conversation with captain Rohit Sharma after landing in Perth, before the latter, as revealed by the 37-year-old in the press conference, convinced him to play in the second Test match. Ashwin remained in contention for the Gabba Test, but was eventually pipped by Ravindra Jadeja, who proved his worth with a valiant fifty that helped India avoid a follow-on in the match. Ashwin then informed each of his teammates individually in Brisbane about his decision to retire, shocking everyone.

Tributes Pour In for Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and quickly established himself not only as a potent bowler but also a valuable lower-order batsman. Over his career, he scored 3,503 runs, including six centuries and 14 fifties.

With 765 international wickets to his name, Ashwin ranks as India’s second-highest wicket-taker, following only Anil Kumble.

In Test cricket, Ashwin has claimed 537 wickets at an impressive average of 24 across 106 matches, placing him seventh on the all-time list of wicket-takers.