“I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink-ball Test” - Rohit Sharma reveals R Ashwin’s retirement plans during BGT 2024-25
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma has revealed his conversation with Ravichandran Ashwin before the latter announced a shock retirement from international cricket after the third Test against Australia in Brisbane. Rohit disclosed that Ashwin desired to return home but he convinced him to stay back for the Adelaide Test.
The 38-year-old played in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, replacing Washington Sundar, but wasn't entirely effective as Australia won by 10 wickets. However, the management swapped him out for the third Test at the Gabba, bringing in Ravindra Jadeja who showcased his skill with the bat, scoring 77 in India's first innings.
Speaking at the post-match presser, Rohit divulged that retirement had been on Ashwin's mind since the first Test. However, the opener admitted that Ashwin himself was in a better position to speak about his mental state.
"Speaking about Ash, he was very very sure about this decision. I heard this when I came to Perth. Obviously, I was not there for the first three or four days of the Test match, but this was in his mind since then," the Indian captian said. "There are obviously a lot of things that went behind it; I'm pretty sure, you know, Ash, when he went in position, will be able to answer that. You know, when we came here as well, we were not sure about, you know, which spinner is gonna play. We just wanted to assess and see what kind of conditions we get in front of us, but yeah, when I arrived in Perth, this was a chat we had, and I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink-ball Test."
The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer made his Test debut in 2011 and finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in the format with 537 behind Anil Kumble (619). He is also the most prolific off-spinner the country has produced.
"We don't know what sort of conditions we expect there" - Rohit Sharma ahead of MCG Test
While Rohit suggested that Ashwin would have been in the mix for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, he respected the spinner's decision to retire, adding in his presser:
"It just happened so that if you know where he felt that, 'if I'm not needed right now in the series, I'm better off saying goodbye to the game', but obviously, we've not been to Melbourne yet, so we don't know what sort of conditions we expect there and what sort of combination, but just keeping Ash in particularly in mind, giving him that respect that this if this is what he thinks, we should allow him to think that way and we should all stand by."
Meanwhile, the third Test between India and Australia ended in a draw with the series still locked at 1-1.