India's 2nd highest wicket-taker, Ashwin retires from international cricket

India's premier off-spinner R Ashwin on Wednesday (December 18) surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane.

 

Ashwin retires from the game as the second highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, leaving him only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets). He will continue to play club cricket.

 

"I won't take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an India cricketer," Ashwin said at the end of the drawn third Test in a joint press conference with captain Rohit Sharma during which he declined to take any questions and left after making the announcement.

 

The 38-year-old played the day-night Test in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.

  Ashwin won't take part in the remaining two matches in India vs Australia Test series. Rohit informed the media persons that Ashwin is leaving for India on December 19. 

Here's what Ashwin said while announcing his retirement from Test cricket

 

"I do feel there's a bit of months left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to expose and probably showcase that in club level cricket, but this will be the last day. "

 

"I had a lot of fun. I must say I've created a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates, even though I've lost some of them over the last few years."

 

"We are the last bunch of the OGs. I think I will be marking this as my end of what I've played at this level. Obviously, there are a lot of people to thank, but I would be creating a lot of memories if I didn't thank the BCCI and a lot of teammates."

 

"I want to name a few of them. All the coaches who have been a part of the journey, most importantly Rohit (Sharma), Virat (Kohli), Ajinkya (Rahane), Pujara (Cheteshwar), who have taken the sprinted catches around the back, who have been the number one cricketers I've managed to get over the years. "

 

"Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who have been very fierce, confident competitors. I've enjoyed my time playing against them. "

 

"I think it's already getting long. I wouldn't be taking any questions, but it's truly a very emotional moment."

 

"I don't think I'm in a position where I'll be answering the questions in the right way. Please pardon me for that. Once again, that's my time."

 

"Thanks for being a journalist, that you've been writing good things, not those writing nasty things on occasions. That's a relationship I think we would maintain forever. I hope the cricketers to come in the future to also get the same amount of love that you've given them."  WATCH Ashwin's press conference here   

       

Ashwin records in international cricket

 

Ravichandran Test stats for India
Span	Mat	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Wkts	BBI	Bowl Avg	5w	Ct	St	Avg Diff
2011-2024	106	3503	124	25.75	6	537	7/59	24	37	36	0	1.75

 

Ravichandran Ashwin stats for India (Overall)
Span	Mat	Inns	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	BBM	Avg	Econ	SR	5w	10w
2010-2024	287	379	5833.3	947	19743	765	7/59	13/140	25.8	3.38	45.7	37	8

   

Highest wicket taker for India in Test cricket
Player	Span	Mat	Inns	Balls	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts	BBI	Ave	Econ	SR	4	5	10
A Kumble	1990-2008	132	236	40850	6808.2	1576	18355	619	10/74	29.65	2.69	65.99	31	35	8
R Ashwin	2011-2024	106	200	27246	4541	907	12891	537	7/59	24	2.83	50.73	25	37	8
N Kapil Dev	1978-1994	131	227	27740	4623.2	1060	12867	434	9/83	29.64	2.78	63.91	17	23	2
Harbhajan Singh	1998-2015	103	190	28580	4763.2	871	13537	417	8/84	32.46	2.84	68.53	16	25	5
RA Jadeja	2012-2024	78	147	18233	3038.5	723	7675	319	7/42	24.05	2.52	57.15	13	15	3
I Sharma	2007-2021	105	188	19160	3193.2	640	10078	311	7/74	32.4	3.15	61.6	10	11	1
Z Khan	2000-2014	92	165	18785	3130.5	624	10247	311	7/87	32.94	3.27	60.4	15	11	1
BS Bedi	1966-1979	67	118	21364	-	1096	7637	266	7/98	28.71	2.14	80.31	13	14	1
BS Chandrasekhar	1964-1979	58	97	15963	-	584	7199	242	8/79	29.74	2.7	65.96	12	16	2
J Srinath	1991-2002	67	121	15104	2517.2	599	7196	236	8/86	30.49	2.85	64	8	10	1
Mohammed Shami	2013-2023	64	122	11515	1919.1	364	6346	229	6/56	27.71	3.3	50.28	12	6	-
JJ Bumrah	2018-2024	43	83	8250	1375	328	3788	194	6/27	19.52	2.75	42.52	6	12	-