The former Indian spin-bowling all-rounder opened up about his decision to step away from international cricket in a conversation with his former teammate and ex-India coach Rahul Dravid on Ravichandran Ashwin YouTube show, “Kutti Stories with Ravichandran Ashwin.”
Ashwin, only the second Indian bowler to surpass 500 Test wickets, announced his retirement during India’s tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.
The decision came amid controversy when Washington Sundar was preferred over Ravichandran Ashwin for the first Test in Perth, drawing widespread criticism. Ashwin returned for the second Test in Adelaide but then stunned fans by announcing his retirement before the Brisbane Test in a press conference.
Reflecting on the final stages of his career while speaking to Dravid, Ravichandran Ashwin explained why he chose to retire quietly:
“I think it was just the time and where I stood in my life, right? I was getting older, I must admit. But going on tours and having to sit out more often eventually took its toll,” he said.
Both Ashwin and his supporters had long been frustrated by his frequent benchings, often without warning, particularly during international tours where team selections were influenced by circumstances rather than form.
“I always imagined retiring around 34-35.” – Ravichandran Ashwin
Following the Melbourne Test, Ravichandran Ashwin announced his immediate retirement from international cricket. In this interview, he clarified that his decision wasn’t driven by any resentment toward the team but was a personal choice to spend more time with his family.
“I’m not stepping away because I don’t want to contribute to the team, but sometimes you think—would I rather be at home, with my children? They’re growing up fast, and what am I truly doing? In my mind, I had always planned to retire around 34-35,” he explained.
Although he has stepped back from international duties, Ravichandran Ashwin emphasized that he remains eager to play domestic cricket and is happy to continue in that arena.
