Chennai: A day after retiring from international cricket, veteran India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin insisted that he called time on his international career but did not retire as a cricketer, saying, “Don’t be surprised if I try and aspire to play for as long as (I) can”.

Shortly after the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane ended in a draw at the Gabba on Wednesday, Ashwin announced in the post-match press conference his decision to retire from international cricket with immediate effect. This would end a 14-year-long career of playing for India across all formats.

Now, Ashiwn is set to return to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. He was bought for Rs 9.75 crore at the mega auction last month.

Ashwin flew home to Chennai with two Tests left in the ongoing series against Australia.

“I am going to play for CSK and don’t be surprised if I try and aspire to play for as long as can. I don’t think Ashwin, the cricketer, is done; I think Ashwin, the Indian cricketer, has probably called it time. That’s it,” Ashwin told reporters after arriving to his hometown on Thursday.

Speaking on his retirement call, Ashwin revealed that the decision was “instinctive” and that he is feeling a “sense of relief and satisfaction.”

“It’s emotional for a lot of people. It will be emotional; maybe it will sink in. But for me, it’s a great sense of relief and satisfaction…It had been running in my head for a while, but it was very instinctive. I felt it on day 4 and called it on day 5,” he added.

Ashwin ends his career with 537 wickets at an average of 24 in 106 Tests and becoming India’s second-leading wicket-taker after legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble. He also scored six Test centuries and 14 fifties with the bat. His last international game was the day-night Test in Adelaide, where he took 1-53.

The spin-bowling all-rounder also played 116 ODIs for India, taking 156 wickets. Ashwin was a member of 2011 ODI World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy-winning teams. He also played 65 T20I matches and took 72 wickets.

The 38-year-old was named the ICC Men’s Cricketer of the Year and Men’s Test Cricketer of the Year in 2016. He was also named in the ICC Test Team of the Decade 2011-20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

–IANS

(Photo: IANS/Biplab Banerjee)