New Delhi: Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday (December 18) after the Brisbane Test. He reached in Chennai in the morning and was escorted to his residence where he received a warm welcome from his family members.
Fans and media were present at the airport but the Indian legend requested privacy and also did not click selfies with fans. Ashwin received a traditional welcome when he reached at his residence. The 38-year-old also looked pleased after meeting his family. Ashwin’s father was the first to hug him while his mother was seen wiping tears off her cheeks while hugging the legendary spinner.
VIDEO | Former India crickter R Ashwin (@ashwinravi99) returns to Chennai from Australia.
R Ashwin, India’s premier off-spinner, surprised the cricketing world yesterday by announcing his retirement in Brisbane with immediate effect in the middle of the Test series against… pic.twitter.com/OuRstMorik
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 19, 2024
Ashwin played 116 Test matches and took 537 wickets for the country. He also notched up six hundreds in the longest format of the game. He has featured in the last three World Cups for India in T20I and ODI. Ashwin played 116 ODI matches and picked up 156 wickets. He also played 65 T20I matches and took 72 wickets. He was also part of the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: People extend a warm welcome to cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin as he arrives at his residence in Chennai, a day after announcing his retirement from International Cricket. pic.twitter.com/rUt5BFX3rA
— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
‘Bit of punch left in me as cricketer would like to showcase that in club-level cricket’: R Ashwin
After the Brisbane Test ended in a draw, Ashwin came out to make an official announcement about his retirement and left after that. He said that there’s some cricket left in him but he will showcase that at the club level. Ashwin will return to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL next year.
“I do feel there is bit of punch left in me as a cricketer but I would like to showcase that in club-level cricket,” Ashwin said in a brief statement during a joint press conference with skipper Rohit Sharma in Brisbane at the end of the drawn third Test there.
Before boarding the flight to India, he also addressed his teammates in the dressing room and said that the international cricketer in him might have come to an end but the cricket nut in him will never come to an end. Ashwin also assured his teammates that he will be there for them whenever they need him.
Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin returned to Chennai after announcing retirement from international cricket midway through India’s tour of Australia. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
