Picture Credit: X

Picture Credit: X

India’s disappointing 1-3 defeat in the recently-concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 saw several incidents unfold, involving Ravichandran Ashwin’s shocking retirement from international cricket. This sudden move from one of the veterans of the game has triggered intense introspection with the Indian cricket team, both on and off the field.

However, days after the shocking move, Ravichandran Ashwin has finally broken silence on his retirement. The legendary Indian spinner bid adieu to international cricket after the third Test in Gabba, Brisbane. However, he did not feature in the India XI, he called it to be his last day in the Indian jersey.

I want to play more cricket: R Ashwin

The former Indian all-rounder however called his decision to be a “personal choice”, he added that their isn’t any place and expressed that he had no desire to remain in the game solely for a ceremonial send-off. "I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room but from somewhere else. I want to be honest with the game. Imagine if I want to play the farewell Test but I do not deserve a place. Imagine, I am only in the team because it is my farewell Test. I don't want that. I felt there was more strength in my cricket. I could have played more but it is always better to finish when people ask 'why' and not 'why not',” said Ashwin on his YouTube channel.

"I think a lot. What to do in life. You all need to understand, that this happens instinctively. If someone gets to know, that their job is done, once that thinking comes, there is nothing to think. People said a lot of things. I don't think it is a big deal. You think what happened. I did not play the first Test. I played the second did not play the third. It was possible I could play the next or not play the next. This is a side of my creativity and I was looking to explore it. At that time, I felt my creativity was over so it was over. It was simple,” he continued.

"What difference will this make if I came out with the ball and people are clapping? How long will people talk about it? When social media was not there, people talked about it and forgot after one week. There is no need for a farewell. The game has given us a lot and we have played with a lot of happiness," Ashwin concluded. It is to be noted that the legendary Kapil Dev, along with Zaheer Khan also did not get a farewell game.

Ashwin played 106 Tests for India, with his last appearance in the pink-ball match against Australia in Adelaide. He concluded his Test career as India's second-highest wicket-taker in the format, with 537 scalps.