New Delhi: When Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket midway through the Australia series, it triggered a sense of deja vu among Indian fans. His sudden announcement sent shockwaves across the cricketing world and brought back old memories of MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble’s retirements.
Before Ashwin abruptly retired in the middle of the series against Australia, Dhoni and Kumble, two former captains of the Indian cricket team had stepped down the same way against the same opponent.
While Dhoni stepped down from Test cricket in December 2014, Kumble quit cricket in 2008.
Unlike Ashwin and Dhoni, who played their final Test match in Australia and retired on their own terms, Kumble played his last game on home soil in Delhi and his decision was triggered by a finger injury.
A decade has passed by, but it still feels like yesterday when Dhoni stunned the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from Test cricket in December 2014, midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Dhoni’s announcement came at a precarious time for India, who were trailing 0-2 in the four-match series.
Ashwin’s unexpected exit mirrors Dhoni’s 2014 decision
Both Dhoni and Ashwin, former and future Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammates announced their retirement without giving any signals of stepping down from Test cricket. Like Dhoni, Ashwin’s decision left the Indian team a player short with the series evenly poised, something the former opening batter and skipper Sunil Gavaskar didn’t approve of
The ongoing five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy is levelled at 1-1.
Unlike Dhoni and Ashwin, Kumble retired after the third Test in Delhi with India leading the four-match series 1-0. The home side would go on to win the series 2-0.
Impact of Ashwin’s absence on India’s Australia tour
Ashwin’s retirement could prove to be decisive for the Indian team, which could have used his services in the upcoming Tests in Melbourne and Sydney. For the final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a venue where spinners get plenty of assistance from the pitch, India could have picked two spinners including Ashwin, the second-highest wicket-taker in Tests for India.
In Ashwin’s absence, the responsibility of leading the spin department lies with 36-year-old Ravindra Jadeja and young tweaker Washington Sundar.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden retirement from international cricket mirrors the unexpected departures of former captains MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
