The Indian fans were hoping for Rohit Sharma and company to either save the Gabba Test or pull off something outlandish against the mighty Aussies. Little did they know what was coming to haunt them. Well, the match came to an anti-climatic end due to rain; a shocking development came in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement. Yes, the masterful spinner, who adorned the Indian jersey 287 times, announced his retirement in the post-match press conference. Social media overflowed with tributes, and cricketers from across eras reached out to congratulate Ashwin on an illustrious career. Among the admirers were legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev, who personally called Ashwin to convey their best wishes.
Ashwin’s call logs that capture hearts
Returning to his home in Chennai, Ashwin shared a moment that resonated deeply with fans. Posting a screenshot of his call log, he expressed his gratitude in a heartfelt caption: “If someone told me 25 years ago that I would have a smartphone and my call log on the last day of my Indian cricket career would look like this, I’d have had a heart attack then only. Thanks @sachin_rt and @therealkapildev paaji. #blessed”
While his hot takes and tactful intelligence have always added spice to his character, Ashwin’s record speaks for itself. Across 287 international games for the nation, Ashwin took 765 wickets at a mind-boggling average and strike rate of 25.8 and 45.75, respectively (best among Indian bowlers with at least 450 wickets).
