Ravichandran Ashwin opens up on his surprise retirement, Kapil Dev criticises timing

Dubai: Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement was as unexpected as it was dramatic. Midway through the high-stakes Australia series, India’s veteran off-spinner stunned the cricketing world with his abrupt decision to walk away from the game. While Ashwin described it as a creative block, Kapil Dev, among others, couldn’t hide his disappointment, questioning the timing of the move.

The announcement came after the Brisbane Test, leaving fans and experts alike speculating about the reasons. Reports suggested Ashwin was disheartened by being benched during the series, especially as Washington Sundar emerged as the team’s preferred off-spinner. Yet, for Ashwin, the decision wasn’t about external factors — it was a deeply personal call driven by his sense of creativity and respect for the game.

However, not everyone was on board with Ashwin’s timing. Legendary all-rounder Kapil Dev expressed his disappointment, suggesting that while Ashwin’s contributions to Indian cricket were remarkable, his decision to step away during an ongoing series could have been handled differently.

“Ashwin is a very strong-headed guy. It’s good to see such characters in cricketers. I felt a little sad when he left in the middle of the tour. He was a great cricketer India has produced and served the game so well, but he should have waited and done it differently. Nevertheless, what he did for the country is unbelievable,” Kapil said, applauding the 38-year-old’s achievements.

Ashwin sets the record straight

“I needed this break. I left the series midway. I did not talk much about cricket, though I did post a few things on X after the Sydney and Melbourne Tests. I did not talk about retirement because I was in the dressing room, and it was very important for me to respect the sanctum of the dressing room. The fan war is very toxic nowadays,” Ashwin said on Ash Ki Baat.

“You should know that sometimes it is done instinctively. People are saying many things, but there is nothing like that. At that time, I thought I lost my creativity. Endings can be happy also. There is no reason to speculate much.”

A stellar career concludes

The 2011 World Cup winner retired with an impressive record of 537 Test wickets in 106 matches and 3503 runs, including six centuries.

Ashwin also addressed the topic of a farewell Test, stating there was no room for him in the Indian playing XI and expressing reluctance to occupy a spot solely for a ceremonial match.

“I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room, but somewhere else. I want to be honest with the game. Imagine if I wanted to play a farewell Test but didn’t deserve a place. Imagine I was only selected because it was my farewell Test.

“I don’t want that. I felt there was still strength in my cricket and that I could have played a bit more. But it’s always better to leave when people ask ‘why’ rather than ‘why not,’” Ashwin concluded.