New Delhi: While the whole cricketing world is paying tributes to Ravichandran Ashwin following his retirement announcement, Sunil Gavaskar was critical of the off-spinner for bidding adieu midway through the series. Ashwin sent shockwaves across the cricket fraternity by announcing his retirement after the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba, Brisbane, which ended in a draw.
Ashwin joined skipper Rohit Sharma in the post-match press conference and announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket in front of the reporters.
Ashwin’s sudden retirement announcement
Ashwin played only one match in the series, which is locked at 1-1. The legendary off-spinner was dropped in favour of Washington Sundar in the opening Test at Perth and after featuring in the Adelaide Test, was axed again as team management picked Ravindra Jadeja as the lone spinner in the playing X1 for the Brisbane Test.
Reports suggest that Ashwin quit due to his unwillingness to warm the bench but Gavaskar feels he should have waited for the series to end.
Gavaskar’s criticism of Ashwin’s timing
“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the third Test in the 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar said during a chat with the broadcasters.
With the series evenly poised at 1-1, Ashwin could have played a key role in the final two Tests, especially in the final match in Sydney. The Sydney Cricket Ground pitch is historically known to assist the spinners and Ashwin could have been handy in the series finale.
Gavaskar feels that India could have played two spinners in the Sydney Test and it was very much possible that India would have required Ashwin’s services.
The former India captain also opined that Ashwin might have fallen down the pecking order even behind Washington Sundar. He signed off by praising Ashwin, who is flying back home on Thursday.
Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of a glorious career that spanned 14 years. Ashwin retires as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket with 537 wickets in 106 matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s surprise retirement from international cricket midway through the India-Australia BGT series has drawn criticism from Sunil Gavaskar. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
