New Delhi: Ravichandran Ashwin stunned the cricketing world by announcing a shock retirement from all forms of cricket following the third Australia vs India Test in Brisbane, Gabba. Ashwin announced his decision to quit following the Test, which ended in a draw. Ashwin joined his skipper Rohit Sharma in the post-match press conference and made the stunning announcement in a jam-packed press room at the Gabba.
Ashwin revealed that even though he had some gas left in the tank as a cricketer, he felt the time was right to step away from cricket as a player. However, Ashwin also said that he will continue to be connected to cricket in some form or the other.
Ashwin’s record-breaking Test career
Despite emerging as India’s greatest match-winner over the last decade, Ashwin’s chances were limited on the overseas tours due to unhelpful conditions for the spinners. That was also the case in the ongoing Australia tour, where he was not part of the playing X1 in the opening Test at Perth and the just-concluded third match in Brisbane.
Ashwin played in the Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval, where he picked up a solitary wicket.
Key highlights and milestones of a legendary spinner
The 38-year-old spinner retired as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 wickets in 106 games. The legendary off-spinner made his India debut in an ODI match against Sri Lanka in Harare, Zimbabwe on June 5, 2010, before debuting in T20I cricket on the same tour against Zimbabwe on June 12, 2010.
One year later, Ashwin made his Test debut against the West Indies in New Delhi and never looked behind since then. As Ashwin ends a golden chapter, let’s celebrate his career with some stunning records that he holds. stunning achievements in Test cricket that he will end up in Indian cricket’s folklore.
R Ashwin records
765 international wickets: Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests, only behind Anil Kumble who leads the list with 953 scalps.
537 Test wickets: Ashwin is also the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests after Anil Kumble and also the second to pick more than 500 wickets in Test cricket. He retires as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Tests in the overall standings.
Second fastest to 500 wickets: Ashwin holds the record of being the second-fastest to reach 500 Test wickets. He achieved the milestone in 98 matches.
475 Test wickets on home soil: Ashwin is only behind Anil Kumble in the standings of most wickets at home by an Indian. Kumble tops the list with 476 scalps on home soil.
302 bowled-LBW wickets: Ashwin is one of only three bowlers to snare more than 300 bowled-lbw dismissals in international cricket. He is only behind Sri Lankan legend Mutthiah Muralitharan (336) and England icon James Anderson (320).
37 Test five-wicket hauls: Ashwin has picked up a whopping 37 Test five-wicket hauls in an innings – the most by an Indian bowler. He is also second in the overall list, behind Muralitharan’s 67. Late Shane Warne also managed to pick 37 fifers.
11 Player of the Series awards: Ashwin has won the most Player of the Series awards in Test cricket.
Fifer and century in the same Test: Ashwin is among the elite list of Indian players besides Vinoo Mankad, Polly Umrigar, and Ravindra Jadeja to have taken a five-wicket-haul and scored a century in the same Test match. He has achieved the feat four times – most by any Indian and second most by any player after Ian Botham (5).
109 bowled dismissals: Ashwin’s 109 wickets by bowling out batters is the 4th most by any bowler in Tests.
R Ashwin retires: Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s spin maestro, shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket. As a glorious chapter ends, let’s take a look at the records held by the spin maestro. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
