Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin addressed the swirling speculations surrounding his retirement from international cricket, stating it was a deeply personal decision made without external pressure. After the conclusion of the third Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, Ashwin retired, shocking fans and cricket commentators alike.
Despite widespread rumors that suggested he was urged to retire, Ashwin revealed in a recent YouTube video that influential figures like Gautam Gambhir and Rohit Sharma actually encouraged him to continue playing. He shared, "No one told me to leave the team; in fact, they wanted me to continue playing."
When confirming his decision, Ashwin remarked, "The decision is very personal when it comes to retirement. These are individual choices that must be respected." He did convey his gratitude towards his teammates and coaching staff for their support.
During his Test career, Ashwin became a cricketing stalwart, with significant achievements such as:
| Statistics | Counts |
|---|
| Test Matches Played | 106 |
| Total Wickets | 537 |
| Total Runs | 3503 |
| Centuries | 6 |
| Fifties | 14 |
Following his retirement, Ashwin was selected by Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2025 mega auction, where he had a challenging season, managing to take only seven wickets in nine matches. Furthermore, he has now also announced his retirement from the IPL, marking the end of an illustrious playing career.