December 19th 2024.
Ravichandran, the father of renowned spin bowler Ashwin, was taken aback by his son's sudden announcement of retirement from international cricket. He even hinted that there may have been underlying reasons for Ashwin's decision, such as feeling humiliated.
On Wednesday, Ashwin dropped a bombshell by announcing his retirement at the end of the third Test against Australia in Brisbane, which ended in a draw. Ravichandran shared his surprise and said, "I too came to know at the last minute. The way in which he gave that statement, there could be many reasons. Only Ashwin knows, maybe he felt humiliated."
It was a shocking move, considering Ashwin's impressive record of 537 Test wickets. However, he was not included in the first Test in Perth and was only given a place in the eleven for the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide. To their dismay, Ashwin was once again benched for the third Test at the 'Gabba' as Ravindra Jadeja took his spot in the match.
Ravichandran revealed that the family had been anticipating Ashwin's retirement for some time now, due to ongoing feelings of humiliation. He did not disclose the exact nature of it but said, "The sudden change - retirement - gave us a shock. We were expecting it because humiliation was going on. How long can he tolerate all those things? Probably, he made the decision on his own."
According to Ravichandran, it was ultimately Ashwin's choice to step away from international cricket. He stated, "It's his wish and desire, I cannot interfere in that. The way he announced his retirement, I was partly happy and partly unhappy. I am happy that he followed his heart, but sad because I believe he still had a lot to offer."
Interestingly, Ashwin had previously hinted at his decision in Brisbane, when he said, "I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me." This statement suggests that there may have been reasons beyond just cricket that influenced Ashwin's choice.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma also shed some light on the matter, revealing that he had a conversation with Ashwin during the Perth Test. "This was on his mind and there are obviously a lot of things that went behind it. When I arrived in Perth, this was a chat we had and I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink ball Test match. Then after that, he felt that if he is not needed right now in the series, he is better off saying goodbye to the game."
In conclusion, Ashwin's retirement may have seemed unexpected, but there were likely various factors that led to his decision. His family and teammates are supportive of him and respect his choice to move on from international cricket.
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