India legend Ravichandran Ashwin reveals the reasons behind his decision to retire midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series in Australia. However, former India captain Kapil Dev expressed disappointment over Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision and added that he should have waited.

India tested three spinners in the first three Tests at BGT. Washington Sundar played in the first game and Ravichandran Ashwin replaced him in the second game. Ravindra Jadeja replaced Ashwin for the third Test. Ashwin surprised everyone by announcing his retirement after the third Test in Brisbane.

Ravichandran Ashwin is a very strong person – Kapil Dev

In an interview with Gulf News, Kapil Dev spoke about Ashwin’s decision to retire midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Dev said Ashwin could have waited until the end of the Sydney Test to make the announcement, adding that his timing could have been better.

“Ashwin is a very strong man. It’s great to see such a character in a cricketer. I felt a bit sad when he left midway through the tour. He was a great cricketer and the Indian team was The performance and serve in the sport were outstanding but he should have waited and done it in a different way, but what he did for the country was unbelievable,” Kapil said.

The 38-year-old spinner’s performance in the home series against New Zealand was below his usual standards, taking nine wickets at an average of 41.22. Ashwin retired with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, including 37 five-wicket hauls. He’s just lagging behind Anil Kamble (619) One of India’s all-time wicket-takers.

He might have been injured by being pushed behind Sundar – Bharat Arun

Former bowling coach Bharat Arun said Ashwin could be “injured” after being replaced by Washington Sundar in the first Test. Allen added that while Ashwin had been replaced by Ravindra Jadeja in overseas tours before, the situation seemed to be affecting him more.

“In the first Test of the tour, a big star like Ravichandran Ashwin got snubbed by a youngster like Washington Sundar. It will definitely hurt him in the past. , Ravindra Jadeja Jadeja has often been ahead of Ashwin in overseas tours but I don’t think Ashwin has been affected but I feel like this time, he might have been hurt by being pushed behind Sundar in the pecking order,” Bharat Arun said.

Ravichandran Ashwin ranks eighth in list of leading Test wicket-takers

Ravichandran Ashwin retired as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket with 765 wickets across formats, second only to Arnie Anil Kumble (953). Ashwin ranks eighth among the leading wicket-takers in Test cricket. He also scored 3,503 runs at an average of 25.76, including six Test hundreds.

The all-time leading Test wicket-takers are Muttiya Muralitharan (800), followed by Shane Warne (708) and james anderson (704). Ashwin is expected to continue playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) after being purchased for a whopping Rs 975 crore in the mega auction.

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