A few days after R Ashwin’s retirement, it has become amply clear that his family was as clueless, about his move, as his teammates and the rest of the world. The veteran off-spinner called it a day, after the 3rd IND vs AUS Test in Brisbane, surprisingly many throughout the cricketing fraternity. Now, as per a report in the Indian Express, Ashwin’s father had already planned to book tickets for Melbourne and Sydney, but a late night call dashed his hopes.
R Ashwin Thwarts Plans
In fact, the 38-year-old even contemplated retirement during the WTC final 2023 vs Australia, where he had trouble with his knee. But then, the spinner decided to give it one last push for the IND vs AUS series. But with Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja in the fray, Ashwin finally decided to hang his boots.
“With his knee giving him trouble, he had given retirement a thought. Those in his close circle say even before he left for Australia, he was in two minds, but wanted to give one final push as there isn’t any immediate Test series lined up post the tour Down Under. So once he boarded the flight to Perth, his family and friends expected him to finish the series, with father Ravichandran even booking flight tickets to watch the Boxing Day and New Year Tests. On Tuesday night, he phoned to inform them that December 18 would be his last day as an international cricketer,” the report said.
Controversial Retirement from IND vs AUS Series
Earlier, his father had told CNN News18, “I too came to know last minute, actually. What was going on in his mind I don’t know. He just announced. I too accepted it with full pleasure. I did not have any feeling at all for that. But the way he gave his retirement, one part I was very happy, another part not happy because he should have continued.”
“(Retiring) is his (Ashwin’s) wish and desire, I cannot interfere in that, but the way in which he gave that, there could be many reasons. Only Ashwin knows, maybe humiliation,” he had said. Meanwhile, Ashwin had a lengthy, 13-year Test career, where he ended up playing 106 Tests for the country, picking up 537 wickets. Overall, he finished with a staggering 765 wickets, just behind Anil Kumble, in most wickets for India.
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