Ravichandran Ashwin, the star Indian cricketer, surprised everyone by announcing his retirement after the third Test match against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. Known for being India’s second-highest wicket-taker in all formats, Ashwin revealed he still has energy left but feels it’s time to step away from international cricket. He ends his career with an impressive total of 765 wickets, including 537 in Test matches.
From the very start, Ashwin showed he was dedicated to learning and improving his game. WV Raman, who was Ashwin’s coach in Tamil Nadu when he first played professionally, shared how Ashwin always aimed to grow as a player. He said it was unexpected for Ashwin to retire, as players can’t really predict when they’re done.
Though people often think Ashwin became famous through the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Chennai Super Kings, he had actually been working hard for many years before that. Raman mentioned that it’s tough to foresee how well a player will do, but he recognized Ashwin’s talent early on.
Some critics believe Ashwin’s success is mostly because he plays on turning pitches in India, but Raman disagrees. He believes if we celebrate batters scoring runs on good pitches, we should also appreciate bowlers taking wickets on turning ones. Ashwin’s career speaks for itself, as he joins the ranks of cricket’s all-time greats.
Throughout his career, Ashwin always wanted to learn more and improve his skills. Raman praised him for overcoming challenges and maximizing his potential. There were times when Ashwin asked questions to understand the game better, which Raman appreciated.
Even though some think Ashwin could have played longer to beat Anil Kumble’s record, Raman explained that it’s really up to the player to feel when it’s time to hang up their boots. If cricket stops being fun, that’s often when players decide to retire.
Ashwin has openly shared his desire to win the Ranji Trophy for Tamil Nadu, a title that has eluded him so far. Raman believes Ashwin will give his all to achieve this goal, and if he succeeds, it would complete his cricket journey beautifully.
Ashwin’s legacy will be remembered for always wanting to learn, facing challenges head-on, and living and breathing cricket—similar to legends like Sachin Tendulkar.
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