R. Ashwin Announces Retirement

In a stunning development, India allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin has announced retirement from international cricket. Ashwin, one of the greatest cricketers to have represented India, draws curtains on his career having taken 765 wickets across the format.

Ashwin broke the news while interacting with the media in Brisbane on Wednesday, accompanying India captain Rohit Sharma for the press conference.

“This will be my last year as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level," Ashwin said. “I feel there’s a little bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I’d like to express that and showcase it in club-level cricket. I’ve had a lot of fun. I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my teammates, even though we’ve lost some of them (to retirements) over the last few years. We’re the last bunch of OGs, we can say that. I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level.

Virat Emotional Note

The anticipation around Ashwin's retirement started to build up when he was captured visibly emotional and hugged by Virat Kohli on camera. Virat Kohli penned an emotional note for his friend. "I've played with you for 14 years and when you told me today you're retiring, it made me a bit emotional and the flashbacks of all those years playing together came to me. I've enjoyed every bit of the journey with you ash, your skill and match-winning contributions to Indian cricket are second to none and you will always and always be remembered as a legend of Indian cricket," Kohli wrote on his social media handle.

Gavaskar criticises

Former Indian captain and legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar reacted to Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement decision's impact on the team and said the allrounder did the same as Dhoni did during the 2014-15 Australia series. Gavaskar arguing that such decisions disrupt team planning. "He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won't be available for selection for India. What it does is that similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the 3rd Test in the 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short," Gavaskar told broadcasters.