Legendary Spinner Ashwin Calls It A Day

Legendary spinner Ashwin calls it a day. India's legendary spinner Ravichander Ashwin pulled down curtains to his distinguished cricketing journey by calling it a day. Ravichandran Ashwin announced his decision after the third test against Australia ended in a draw at Brisbane.

Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of cricket at international level. Addressing media,he thanked BCCI, his opponent country players and Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli,Ajinkya Rahane, Chateshwar Pujara and others. He said "This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats in the international level. I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to ... showcase that in club level cricket."

Ashwin shared "I think it would be unfortunate to have me around his side (on sitting with Rohit at the PC), since he has announced I'm not going to take too much of your time, this will be my last year as an Indian cricketer at the international level. There's a bit left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to exploit it at the domestic and club-level cricket, but this would be the last day (at the international level). I have had a lot of fun, a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates. We've lost some of them over the last few years, we've been the last bunch of OGs I can say that are left out in the dressing room. I can mark this as my last day in the dressing room. I have several people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn't thank the BCCI and my teammates. I want to name a few of them, all the coaches who've been part of the journey, most importantly Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya, Pujara, who have taken a number of catches around the bat and have given men a number of wickets that I've managed over a number of years. Also want to thank the Australian team who've been fierce competitors over a number of years, I've enjoyed my team playing against them. It's already getting long, I wouldn't be taking any questions, truly emotional moments and I'm not in a position to answer any questions in the right manner. Once again, thanks for being the journalists you've been, for writing good things, and some nasty things at times. It's a relationship I think we'll maintain forever and I hope you give the other cricketers the same amount of love that you showered upon me. I've stopped as a cricketer, but I'll go on and be involved with the game, it's a game which has given me a lot."

In the test cricket Ashwin made 181 appearances and snatched 228 wickets. He made 116 ODI appearances and took 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with best figures of 4/25. He also made 707 runs at an average of 16.44, with one fifty, a knock of 65 in 63 innings. He is the 13th-highest wicket-taker in ODIs for India.

In 65 T20Is, he took 72 wickets at an average of 23.22. His best figures are 4/8. He also scored 184 runs in 19 innings at an average of 26.28, with best score of 31. He is the sixth-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is.

With 765 scalps in 287 matches, he is India's second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, next to Kumble (953). He also won the 2011 50-Over World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy with India.