"It's not the first time this has happened" - Former India opener backs Ravichandran Ashwin's decision to retire midway through BGT 2024-25
Former India batter WV Raman has backed Ravichandran Ashwin's decision to retire after the third Test against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday, December 18. Pointing out that this is not the first instance of a cricketer retiring during a series, he added that sometimes a player just gets the feeling that he has had enough.
Ashwin (38) stunned the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from international cricket following the conclusion of The Gabba Test on Wednesday. In an illustrious career, the off-spinner played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, claiming 537, 156 and 72 wickets respectively. He was also a handy lower-order batter, notching up six tons and 14 fifties in Test cricket.
While some experts have questioned the timing of Ashwin’s retirement, with two Tests left in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Raman has thrown his weight behind the Tamil Nadu cricketer, telling news agency PTI:
"I think there has been an instance before when a cricketer retired during a series. It's not the first time this has happened. Secondly, a cricketer retires when he feels that he's had enough. It's all a case of things slowing down in one's mind or suddenly a cricketer gets a feeling that oh, enough! I can't really go through this routine of getting up or training, going to the ground, doing things over and over again.
"There's no saying as to when suddenly this snap happens in the mind. But when that happens, that's when a cricketer decides to call it a day."
Speaking further in defense of Ashwin, Raman pointed out that because of his combative nature, the veteran cricketer might have found it tough hanging around and not making a contribution to the team. The cricketer-turned-coach said:
"He has been around for a long, long time. Perhaps, he must have felt that if he's not going to really make any difference or make any contribution, there's no point in hanging around.”
While the off-spinner was picked in the team for the pink-ball Test against Australia in Adelaide, he was left out of the playing XI in the first and third Tests in Perth and Brisbane respectively.
Sunil Gavaskar questions timing of Ashwin’s retirement
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar questioned the timing of Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket. He opined that the off-spinner could have waited till the end of the series before quitting. Gavaskar pointed out that by retiring midway through a series, the cricketer has left the team a player short.
"He could have said, listen after the end of the series, 'I won't be available for selection for India'. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the 3rd Test in 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short. The selection committee has picked so many players for a tour with a purpose," Gavaskar commented, as quoted by India Today.
Meanwhile, the rain-hit Gabba Test between India and Australia ended in a draw. The next match of the series will be the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, which will begin on December 26.