“If I get to 618, that means it'll be my last Test match” - When R Ashwin spoke about his retirement plans
Back in 2017, Team India spin-bowling all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin spoke about his desire to leave on a high after getting to 618 wickets. He said that he wanted to end one short of the tally of the highest Indian wicket-taker in Tests, Anil Kumble, out of respect for the legendary spinner.
Ashwin played his 100th Test match against England in Dharamshala and has 516 wickets in Test cricket to his name. With 103 wickets short of the number he wished to reach, Ashwin finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in whites for Team India.
Formerly, Ashwin expressed his desire to retire whenever he reaches 618 wickets out of respect for Anil Kumble. The Karnataka and Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowler became the highest wicket-taker for Team India in 2004, trapping Mohammad Rafique of Bangladesh ahead of the wickets. Overall, Kumble picked up 619 wickets in 132 Tests.
Speaking to Gulf News in an interaction back in 2017, Ashwin said:
"Definitely not, I am a big fan of Anil Kumble and he has got 619 wickets and, if I get to 618 wickets, I will be very thankful too and, if I get to 618, that will be my last Test match."
Ravichandran Ashwin is currently the second-highest wicket-taker for Team India. Having played 106 Tests, Ashwin picked up 537 wickets with a career-best of 7/59 to his name.
Ravichandran Ashwin announces his retirement from international cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket today, December 18. In the post-match press conference held after the third Test, Ashwin said:
"This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I feel there is a bit of punch in me left as a cricketer, but I would like to showcase that at club-level cricket. This will be the last day, and I have had a lot of fun. I must say I have played and made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates, although I have lost a few of them now over the last few years. We are the last bunch of OGs if we can say that, left in the dressing room."
Ashwin retires with 765 wickets across the three formats to his name. He also holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have more than 500 Test wickets and more than five Test tons in Test cricket.