New Delhi
India’s legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has decided to retire from international cricket. He announced this in the press conference after the Gaba test. Ashwin had reached the press conference with captain Rohit Sharma and announced this there. Before retirement, Ashwin was seen sitting with Virat Kohli in the dressing room. During this, Kohli also hugged him. Ashwin was a part of Team India in the Adelaide Day Night Test.
This 38 year old spinner has made many records for India. He is ranked seventh among the highest wicket takers in Tests. Ashwin has 537 wickets in his name in 106 tests. Seven wickets for 59 runs is his best bowling. During this period his average was 24.00 and strike rate was 50.73. Ashwin is second only to Anil Kumble among the Indians who have taken the most wickets in Tests. Kumble had 619 Test wickets in his name. Ashwin’s announcement is shocking, because he was the spearhead of the Indian spin attack on Indian soil. Coming to Australia and suddenly deciding to retire is shocking.
This is my last day –
Ashwin said in the press conference regarding his retirement, “This is my last day at the international level as an Indian cricketer.” Ashwin looked emotional during the press conference. Captain Rohit was also sitting with him.
Ashwin’s Test career was like this –
Ashwin has played 106 test matches for India. He scored 3503 runs during this period. Ashwin has scored 6 centuries and 14 half-centuries in Tests. His best test score was 124 runs. He has performed strongly for India many times in difficult situations. Ashwin showed excellence in batting as well as bowling. He took 537 wickets during this period. Ashwin’s best performance was taking 7 wickets for 59 runs in a Test innings.
Ashwin has played 41 World Test Championship (WTC) matches for India and has 195 wickets to his name, which is the most wickets taken by any player. Apart from his stellar performance in Test cricket, Ashwin has played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is for India. In both he has dismissed 156 and 72 batsmen respectively.
On Ashwin’s retirement, Indian captain Rohit Sharma said that he was very confident about his decision, we should respect his wish. At the same time, BCCI said in a statement that Ashwin is synonymous with expertise, skill, talent and innovation.
Apart from taking 537 wickets, Ashwin has also helped India win many test matches with his batting. He came out to bat 151 times for India in Tests and scored 3503 runs with the help of six centuries and 14 half-centuries. During his 14-year international career, Ashwin played 44 Test series for India. During this period he won the Player of the Series award on 11 occasions, the joint-most by any player in the Test format of the game.
Ashwin has taken five-wicket hauls 37 times in 106 Test matches, which is the most by an Indian bowler in the five-day format of the game. In this list, only Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (67) is ahead of Ashwin. Ashwin made his T20 International debut for India on 12 June 2010 against Zimbabwe at Harare. He played a total of 65 matches, in which he took 72 wickets.
Ashwin has 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests, which is the most by an Indian bowler. After him comes Kumble’s turn. Kumble had taken five wickets in 35 innings in Tests. The overall record of taking five wickets in the most innings is in the name of Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. He did this 67 times. Ashwin is jointly at second position with Shane Warne.
Apart from playing 106 Tests, Ashwin was also a part of Team India in 116 ODIs and 65 T20s. He took 156 wickets in ODIs and 72 wickets in T20. His best bowling in ODI is four wickets for 25 runs and in T20 he is four wickets for eight runs. His economy has been 4.93 in ODI and 6.90 in T20. However, in both of these he could not take five wickets in an innings even once. Apart from this, Ashwin has also scored a lot of runs in Tests. He has 3503 runs in his name in Test. During this period his average has been 25.75. The highest score in Ashwin’s name in Test has been 124 runs. He has scored six centuries and 14 half-centuries. Apart from this, he has scored 707 runs in ODI at an average of 16.44 and 184 runs in T20 at a strike rate of 114.99.
Ashwin made his debut in international cricket on June 5, 2010 in an ODI against Sri Lanka in Harare. At the same time, he made his T20 debut on 12 June 2010 against Zimbabwe in Harare. Ashwin’s Test debut was in 2011 against West Indies in Delhi. He is also the player to win the most Player of the Series awards in Tests. He has won the Player of the Series award 11 times in Test. In this matter he is at par with Muraleedharan.
