“He wasn’t treated fairly” - Former CSK batter expresses shock at R Ashwin’s retirement after BGT 2024-25 3rd Test
Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Subramaniam Badrinath has expressed shock at Ravichandran Ashwin's sudden retirement after the third India-Australia Test in Brisbane. The duo played several years together with CSK, helping the franchise to titles in 2010 and 2011.
Coming to Ashwin, the 38-year-old announced his retirement from international cricket minutes after the Brisbane Test and returned home the following day in the middle of the series. The champion off-spinner played the second Test in Adelaide but was left out of the opening and third Test in favor of Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja.
Opening up on Ashwin's sudden retirement, Badrinath told Star Sports:
"I am shocked. I think, to be honest, he wasn't treated fairly. Rohit Sharma said he wanted to leave after the Perth Test match. He wanted to leave when Washington Sundar was played ahead of him. That tells you he was not happy. Honestly, I am saying something - it's a big thing for a cricketer from Tamil Nadu. There are many reasons for that. Players from a few other states get better chances."
He added:
"Despite all these odds, Ashwin went on to take more than 500 wickets and became a legend. Imagine what he must have gone through. I know he has faced quite a few things. On many occasions, efforts were made to sideline him. But every time, he has bounced back like a phoenix bird."
Ashwin wasn't at his usual best in the home Test series against New Zealand, resulting in Sundar possibly starting as the lone spinner in the playing XI for the Australia series.
The veteran played the following game in Adelaide and picked up just the lone wicket as India suffered a 10-wicket defeat. Jadeja subsequently replaced him for the Brisbane Test and scored a crucial match-saving 77 despite going wicketless with the ball.
"He deserved a glorious exit" - Subramaniam Badrinath on R Ashwin
Subramaniam Badrinath believes Ravichandran Ashwin deserved a proper farewell upon his retirement instead of what transpired, with the Tamil Nadu spinner leaving Australia mid-series.
The 38-year-old is India's second leading wicket-taker overall (765) and in Tests (537) behind only Anil Kumble.
"He can quit cricket, but this is not the way he should have gone out. It should have been a glorious exit. He deserved a glorious exit. It's not fair, it's not right. He has not been treated properly. I have closely followed his progress. Because he is from Tamil Nadu, he has faced this. If you ask me if it would have happened with a cricketer from any other state, I don't think so. I feel bad for Ashwin. This exit should not have been like this," said Badrinath (as per the aforementioned source).
Ashwin will continue playing club cricket with his next on-field assignment likely to be for CSK in IPL 2025.