Indian great announces shock retirement after Gabba Test

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday after being persuaded by captain Rohit Sharma to stay in Australia a few weeks longer despite missing selection for the opening Test in Perth.

Ashwin, who played in the second Test against Australia in Adelaide, but was not selected for the next match in Brisbane, announced his decision at a post-match press conference. However, he did not take questions from the media because he thought he would become too emotional.

The 38-year-old, one of India’s greatest players, had been mulling over the decision for a number of weeks. He will return to India on Thursday and take no further part in the Border-Gavaskar series.

“I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink ball Test match [in Adelaide],” Rohit told reporters after play was abandoned on day five with the Brisbane Test ending in a draw.

“He felt that if I’m not needed right now in the series, I’m better off saying goodbye to the game.

“He’s been a truly big match winner. He gets to make those decisions on his own and if it was now, then so be it.”

Ashwin will end his decorated career with 537 Test wickets at an average of 24. Only six players have taken more wickets in Tests: Muttiah Muralitharan (800), Shane Warne (708), Jimmy Anderson (704), Anil Kumble (619), Stuart Broad (604) and Glenn McGrath (563).

In 23 Tests against Australia, Ashwin took 115 wickets at 28.58.

“I didn’t want to make this about myself,” Ashwin said. “This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at 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.

“I’ve had a lot of fun, I’ve created a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and other teammates, even if I have lost some of them over the last few years. We are the last bunch of OGs [originals].

“There are a lot of people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India] and fellow teammates.

Ravichandran Ashwin (centre) has announced his shock retirement from Test cricket.Credit: Getty

“Most importantly, Rohit, Virat [Kohli], Ajinkya [Rahane], [Cheteshwar] Pujara, who’ve taken that many catches around the bat to give me the number of wickets I’ve managed to get over the years. Also, a big thank you to the Australian cricket team who’ve been very fierce competitors. I’ve enjoyed my time playing against them.

“It’s truly a very emotional moment. I don’t think I’m in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way. So please pardon me for that.

“Thanks for being the journalists that you’ve been – writing good things and, of course, writing nasty things on occasions. That’s a relationship I think we would maintain forever.

“I might go on to be involved with the game because this is a game that’s given me everything.”

Meanwhile, Rohit conceded his own form had not been good enough after a return of 19 runs at 6.33 during two Tests since he arrived in Australia following the birth of his second child.

“I have not battled well,” he said. “There’s no harm in accepting that. But I know what’s in my mind, how I’m preparing myself. All those boxes are very much ticked. It’s just about spending as much time [in the middle].

“As long as my mind, my body and my feet are moving well, I’m pretty happy with how things are panning out for me.

“Obviously runs are not showing, but inside it’s a different feeling.”