Category: Cricket

On Wednesday, rain helped India draw the third Test match against Australia in Brisbane. But the biggest surprise came when star player Ravichandran Ashwin, aged 38, announced his retirement from international cricket right after the match.

Ashwin revealed this shocking news during a press conference alongside captain Rohit Sharma, despite two more matches left in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He had been left out of the first Test, which India won, and played in the second Test, which India lost. He was again dropped for the Brisbane Test that ended in a draw.

As the news spread on social media, fans, players, and experts shared their love and respect for Ashwin. Former Indian cricketer Abhinav Mukund also wrote a heartfelt tribute about Ashwin on ESPNCricinfo, recalling their childhood cricket days in Chennai.

Mukund shared a funny story about how both players played in an under-12 tournament. He remembered scoring his first-ever century while Ashwin was injured and acting as the scorer. “I celebrated after reaching 90 runs and then heard applause later. I realized the scorer had made a mistake with the numbers!” Mukund said.

He reflected, “At the time, I thought Ashwin was done with cricket due to his injury and would focus on studies. Little did I know he’d become a cricket legend!”

Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an amazing career. Many consider him one of the greatest cricketers ever. He played a key role in India’s victories in the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. After starting cricket at just nine years old, Ashwin was coached by Chandrasekar Rao in his early days. He has already left Australia and returned to Chennai, planning to play in the IPL 2025 for CSK next

It’s tough to outsmart Ravichandran Ashwin, both on the cricket field and with words. Recently, Virat Kohli shared how Ashwin’s retirement made him emotional, thinking about their 14 years of playing together for India. Kohli wrote a heartfelt message, saying, “I’ve enjoyed every bit of my journey with you, Ash. Your skills and contributions to Indian cricket are unmatched. You will always be remembered as a legend. I wish you all the best in life!” Kohli concluded this touching note with love and gratitude.

In response, Ashwin thanked Kohli, saying, “I’ll be walking out to bat with you at the MCG.” Ashwin is now back in Chennai, promising to support Kohli during the Boxing Day Test against Australia, starting on December 26.

The emotional moment between Kohli and Ashwin sparked retirement rumors. During a rain break on Day 5 of the third Test, they were seen hugging and chatting in the dressing room. Ashwin later announced his retirement, visibly emotional, alongside captain Rohit Sharma.

Ashwin reflected on his career, stating, “I don’t want to talk only about myself. I had a lot of fun. I made many memories with Rohit and my teammates, even as we’ve lost some over the years.” He proudly mentioned that they are the last of the “originals.”

In red-ball cricket, Ashwin played 106 Tests, took 537 wickets (including 37 five-wicket hauls), and scored 3,503 runs. His contributions to Indian cricket go beyond just impressive statistics, making him one of India’s all-time greats.

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.

The Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have kept key players Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal for the IPL 2024 season. However, they let go of popular names like Faf du Plessis and Glenn Maxwell.

During the auction in Jeddah, RCB spent ₹2 crores each on several new players, including Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and English batsman Phil Salt. They also picked up Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and all-rounder Krunal Pandya for the same price. Additionally, they brought in Tim David and former player Devdutt Padikkal.

RCB invested ₹1 crore on players like Jitesh Sharma and Lungisani Ngidi, and they paid ₹1.5 crores for Romario Shepherd and ₹1.25 crores for Jacob Bethell. Other players like Swapnil Singh and Mohit Rathee were also signed.

As they head into IPL 2025, Virat Kohli will be the most important player for RCB, especially after releasing Du Plessis. Kohli is expected to return as the team’s captain.

In IPL 2024, Kohli changed his batting style, playing more aggressively during the powerplay. With the new power hitters in the team, fans are curious about how Kohli will bat next season.

Mo Bobat, RCB’s Director of Cricket, expressed confidence in Kohli’s ability. He said, “Virat has a lot of experience and skill. He knows what to do on the field. Last year, he showed great intent and scored many runs, even when the team wasn’t winning.”

Kohli finished IPL 2024 as the top scorer with 741 runs, significantly more than the second-highest scorer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, who had 583 runs. RCB reached the playoffs but lost to the Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator

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.”

The ICC Men’s Champions Trophy in 2025 will be held in Pakistan and at a different venue, as announced by the cricket organization on Thursday. This important decision is part of the arrangement for ICC events from 2024 to 2027. It states that any matches between India and Pakistan during this time will be played at neutral locations.

The idea is to avoid issues related to travel and safety. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has said that they won’t play in Pakistan due to safety concerns. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has pointed out that they allowed Indian teams to play in India during the 2023 World Cup, suggesting that the Indian board should do the same now.

The neutral venue plan aims to make things easier and safer for players and fans, especially because of the political tensions between India and Pakistan.

The Champions Trophy will include eight top teams: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa, and Pakistan. It is scheduled to take place in February and March of next year. Pakistan is the defending champion after winning the tournament against India in 2017.

This will be the first time the Champions Trophy is held in Pakistan since it started in 1998. Besides the men’s tournament, Pakistan will also host the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup, with neutral venues for India-Pakistan matches in that event as well.

Ravichandran Ashwin, a famous Indian cricketer, surprised everyone by retiring from international cricket on Wednesday. Many think his choice may have been influenced by not being picked for the first three Tests of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. In the first Test in Perth, another player, Washington Sundar, was chosen as the main spinner, while Ashwin sat on the bench. Things changed when Rohit Sharma became captain again for the second Test in Brisbane.

After a chat in Perth, Rohit encouraged Ashwin to stay for the pink-ball Test. Sadly, Ashwin was dropped again for the Brisbane Test, and on December 18, he decided it was time to say goodbye to cricket, feeling unnecessary to the team.

Ashwin’s friend, Aravind Raghavan, shared on Instagram that Ashwin had been thinking about retiring for months. Many fans were surprised, especially since Ashwin was a star bowler with over 500 Test wickets and almost always performed well. It stood out that he left before the end of the series, which is currently tied 1-1, with two crucial matches left in Melbourne and Sydney, where the Indian team has a good chance to win.

There are still questions about Ashwin’s retirement and the events leading up to it. Fans are curious to hear his side of the story when he chooses to share it.

Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from international cricket just a day after a tough Test match in Australia. The 38-year-old spinner explained that this decision felt right to him and came from his gut feeling. He arrived back home in Chennai and shared his thoughts.

He admitted that thinking about retiring had crossed his mind for some time, but he decided to make the announcement right after the rain-affected match at Gabba that ended in a draw. Ashwin said he first felt ready to retire on the fourth day of the match when teammates showed great fight to avoid losing badly, and he waited until the match finished on the fifth day to share the news.

When asked if it was hard to announce his retirement, he said it was not difficult for him. “It’s emotional for many people, but for me, it felt like a relief and satisfaction. I had thought about it for a while, but it came from instinct. I felt it on day 4 and made the decision on day 5,” he explained.

Before making the announcement, there were no hints in the news. However, there was a touching moment when Virat Kohli hugged Ashwin in the dressing room right before the match ended. Ashwin then joined captain Rohit Sharma to talk to the reporters, briefly confirmed his retirement, and left without answering questions.

But there’s good news too! Ashwin will continue playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) starting in 2025. He made it clear that he is not done with cricket and will keep playing as long as he can. “I’m going to play for CSK, and don’t be surprised if I keep trying to play for a long time. I think my time as an Indian international cricketer is over, but Ashwin the cricketer is still here,” he finished.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement is just the beginning of changes for the Indian cricket team. Many senior players might retire soon to make way for new talent. According to a report from Cricbuzz, this transition could start during the team’s tour of England in June-July this year.

The ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia might be the last big series for the “OG generation,” which includes players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ravindra Jadeja. Ashwin was surprised many by being the first to retire.

Captain Rohit Sharma has said that players can still get back into the team if they perform well, but it seems that players like Pujara and Rahane are no longer in the plans. Did Ashwin get a hint about this too?

There are mixed reports about why Ashwin retired. While Cricbuzz mentioned that the team was informed in advance, other reports suggested that the selection committee was caught off guard.

Though there was no direct warning, whispers in the dressing room suggested Ashwin was aware of changes coming his way. This was shown by Ashwin not being chosen for a recent match in Perth, which was a big surprise given his impressive record. Choosing Washington Sundar over Ashwin made it clear things were changing.

It’s unclear if Ashwin received a direct message about his place in the team, but being skipped for the Perth Test must have been tough for someone who has always represented India with pride. Other senior players might also find themselves in a similar situation as the team prepares for a new phase. After a recent match, India’s chances of winning the World Test Championship have decreased, and it’s possible that a new captain will take over soon.