Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s legendary off-spinner, broke his silence on the abrupt retirement announcement that stunned the cricketing world during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
In a candid discussion on Chennai Super Kings' podcast, Mike Testing 123, Ashwin shared that his decision was not spontaneous but the result of a long-contemplated process that came after the Brisbane Test.
Ravichandran Ashwin did not start the series for India, as the team management picked Washington Sundar ahead of him. He played the second Test in Adelaide but could only bag one wicket. He was again dropped in the third match, which led to his retirement decision.
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Ashwin, who retired from international cricket after the third Test in Brisbane, explained that he had initially considered retiring after his 100th Test, where he claimed nine wickets combined in both innings.
"To be very honest, I wanted to do it after my 100th Test. And then I thought, Ok, let me give it a go in the home season. Because, I mean, you’re playing well and you’re getting wickets, you’re making runs," Ashwin said as quoted.
However, the physical and mental toll of sustaining his performance, coupled with limited family time, weighed heavily on him.
"So I thought it does make sense to play a bit. I was having a lot of fun, but the whole hard yards that I had to put through to put myself on the park again, physically and mentally, one of the most important things for me that was pulling me down was the family time," he added.
Retirement again crossed his mind after the Chennai Test versus Bangladesh during the home season, where he delivered a standout performance, scoring a hundred in the first innings and then bagging a six-wicket haul in the second innings.
"I thought I’ll probably close off (with) the Chennai Test here. I ended up getting a six-wicket haul and a hundred. So it’s very tough to quit when you’re doing very well."
Despite his form, India’s loss to New Zealand in the home Test series and subsequent events led him to reconsider.
"So, I went on with the series, and we lost against New Zealand. So one after the other, it was just building up. And then I thought, okay, let me go to Australia. Let me see how this goes," Ashwin shared.
His exclusion from the playing XI in Perth, the series opener against Australia, reignited doubts, ultimately forcing him to bring the curtains down on his international career.
Reflecting on the emotional toll, he noted,
"Because the last time I was in Australia, I had a great, great tour. And when I didn’t start in Perth, it was like, okay, this whole circle keeps going again. People add very little value to what you’re going through emotionally. They don’t really consider that because your emotions are yours, and it doesn’t matter to anybody else. So I had been contemplating that, and then I thought, okay, maybe it is time."
Ashwin’s retirement marked the end of a stellar 14-year career with 537 Test wickets and six Test centuries in 106 matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin Honoured with Padma Shri Award
Ashwin’s contributions to Indian cricket were recognized with the prestigious Padma Shri award on Monday, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, acknowledging his exceptional service to the sport. The award celebrated his remarkable achievements, including his role as one of India’s greatest match-winners in Test cricket.
As a player who redefined the role of an off-spinner in modern Test cricket, his contributions inspired a generation of young cricketers.
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The honor, bestowed upon him on Monday by President Droupadi Murmu, cemented his place among India’s cricketing icons.
Ashwin is currently playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League 2025 (IPL 2025), keeping his love for cricket alive.
