Cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin arrived home in Chennai on Thursday after announcing he is retiring from international cricket. His surprise decision came right after the third Test game against Australia, with the series tied at 1-1.
The 38-year-old bowler revealed his feelings, saying, “This is emotional for many, but for me, it’s a big relief.” He shared that the idea of retiring had been on his mind for some time, and he decided to make it official after the fourth day of the Test match.
Ashwin ends his incredible career with a total of 765 international wickets. In Tests, he took 537 wickets, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker, just behind Anil Kumble. He has also achieved 37 five-wicket hauls, which is an impressive record.
When asked about not leading the Indian team, he confidently said, “I have zero regrets.” Upon returning home, Ashwin received a warm welcome from his parents and friends, which surprised him. “I just wanted some peace at home, but this made my day,” he said.
Ashwin has played a significant role in great events like the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. In his white-ball career, he played 116 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 65 Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
He shared that memories from the last two years had faded, leading to his decision to retire. However, Ashwin confirmed he would continue playing club cricket. He plans to play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the IPL and likely the Dindigul Dragons in the Tamil Nadu Premier League next year.
“I still have the passion to play,” he said. “It’s just Ashwin the Indian cricketer who is done, not Ashwin the cricketer.”
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