New Delhi: As Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement brought a sense of deja vu, former India head coach Ravi Shastri lifted the lid on the retirement of MS Dhoni a decade ago and recalled how the former skipper’s call took everyone by surprise. Legendary off-spinner Ashwin called it quits from international cricket following the conclusion of the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane where both teams played out a draw.
Ashwin’s retirement took everyone by surprise, especially because he didn’t give any signal of retiring from Test cricket. Ashwin, who played a solitary match out of three completed Tests, announced his retirement during the post-match press conference while sitting beside his skipper Rohit Sharma.
Following the stunning announcement, Ravi Shastri, former India player and head coach, expressed surprise over Ashwin’s decision and recalled a similar incident from 2014.
Chatting with Australian channel SEN Cricket, Shastri revealed how Dhoni stunned everyone by announcing his retirement from Tests midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and also explained the story behind his decision.
Ravi Shastri lifts the lid on Dhoni’s retirement – WATCH
.@RaviShastriOfc explains the story behind MS Dhoni retiring and how it took everyone by surprise.#AUSvIND #BorderGavaskarTrophy pic.twitter.com/iBa0BA5yUC
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) December 18, 2024
During the BGT series Down Under in December 2014, Dhoni sent shockwaves across the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from red-ball cricket in the middle of the four-match series. Dhoni’s shock announcement came at a time when India were trailing 0-2 in the 4-match rubber.
Ashwin retires as second-most successful Indian bowler in Tests
Meanwhile, Ashwin called it quits with the series locked at 1-1 and two matches to go. The iconic spinner, who retires with 537 wickets in Test cricket – the second highest by an Indian and 765 international wickets, played his solitary match in the ongoing series in Adelaide.
His only appearance in the series was during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide was sandwiched between the opening Test in Perth, where India claimed a 295-run win and the third Test in Gabba, Brisbane, which ended in a draw.
R Ashwin retirement: Following the sudden retirement announcement from R Ashwin, Ravi Shastri recalled a similar incident from 2014 when MS Dhoni took everyone by surprise by calling it quits in the middle of the BGT series. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
