New Delhi: Ravichandran Ashwin isn’t one to miss the significance of India picking Washington Sundar over him for the Border-Gavaskar series opener at Perth. It meant he was third in the pecking order of spinners behind Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja in the five-match Test series for Australia.
For a man who has 537 wickets, it was hard to accept, which led him to retire from international cricket after rain-enforced draw on the third Test at Brisbane.
After receiving criticism in his underwhelming performance in India’s 0-3 series loss to New Zealand prior to the Australia series, Ashwin had made up his mind as India’s next home Test series is in October-November in 2025.
And he wasn’t prepared warm the benches, promptly retiring after being dropped for the Brisbane game, having been included for the day-night Test at Adelaide.
“There was no nudge from the selection committee. Ashwin is a legend in Indian cricket and he has the right to take his own call,” a senior BCCI source told PTI.
No place in team in next Test cycle
After the Australia Tests, India’s next red-ball series is in England from June to August, leading to a 10 month gap between the next home series for India. As by then a new Test cycle will begin, it dawned on Ashwin that he wouldn’t fit into the team’s plan by then.
As reported by PTI, the 38-year-old thought of leaving even before the Australia series and didn’t want to travel unless he is assured a place in the team.
With the series tied 1-1 after the first three matches, India’s team selection is far from certain, as acknowledged by skipper Rohit Sharma. It must have nudged Ashwin to leave on his own terms rather than being told, as was the case with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
“If I am not needed right now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the game,” Ashwin told Rohit, who convinced the veteran to take the field in Adelaide.
“When I arrived in Perth, this was a chat we had and I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink ball Test match and then after that, it just happened…He felt that if I am not needed right now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the game,” Rohit said.
“It’s important when a player like him who has had so many moments with the Indian team and he has been a truly big match-winner for us, he is allowed to make those decisions on his own and if it was now, so be it.”
Unwillingness to warm the bench prompted Ravichandran Ashwin to retire from international cricket. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
