"Enjoyed Every Bit of The Journey With You Ash" - Virat Kohli Pens Emotional Note After Ashwin’s Retirement

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Senior India batter Virat Kohli penned an emotional note after one of the country's most decorated spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday (December 18).

The 38-year-old, who is with the Indian team in Brisbane, shared a heartwarming moment with Kohli before the retirement new became public. The anticipation around Ashwin's retirement started to build up when he was seen visibly emotional and shared a hug with Kohli as captured during the closing stages of the Brisbane Test.

After the Brisbane Test concluded in a draw as rain played spoilsport for the majority of the contest, Ashwin announced his retirement from the international circuit. Moments later, tributes started to pour in, and an emotional Kohli was no exception.

Kohli, who has shared the Team India dressing room with Ashwin for 14 years, has seen ups and downs together with the veteran spinner. The duo have been a part of some of India's famous victories and some of the most upsetting results as well.

The former India captain Kohli took to his social media account to recall memories with the seasoned spinner Ashwim, and congratulated his "buddy" on over a decade long international career.

"I've played with you for 14 years and when you told me today you're retiring, it made me a bit emotional and the flashbacks of all those years playing together came to me. I've enjoyed every bit of the journey with you ash, your skill and match-winning contributions to Indian cricket are second to none and you will always and always be remembered as a legend of Indian cricket," Kohli wrote on X.

"Wish you nothing but the best in your life with your family and everything else that it unfolds for you. With massive respect and lots of love to you and your close ones. Thanks for everything buddy," he concluded.

The crafty off-spinner made his retirement announcement brief, saying Wednesday (December 18) marked his last day as an international cricketer as he also thanked several of his teammates in his short speech.

"I don't want to make it about myself. This is my last day as an international cricketer. I've had a lot of fun. I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and several of my team-mates, even though we've lost some of them [to retirements] over the last few years.

"We're the last bunch of OGs, we can say that. I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level," Ashwin said in the post-match press conference alongside India skipper Rohit Sharma.

Ashwin Retirement Decision Made in Perth?

Meanwhile, Rohit said that he was clearly at a loss of words following the announcement and called him one of the biggest "match-winners" the country has ever produced, but the skipper added that the veteran spinner was very clear about his decision right from the start of the tour Down Under.

"Speaking about Ash, he was very very sure about this decision. I heard this when I came to Perth. Obviously, I was not there for the first three or four days of the Test match, but this was on his mind since then. There are obviously a lot of things that went behind it; I'm pretty sure, Ash, when he went in position, will be able to answer that," Rohit told reporters at the post-match press conference.

In his career, Ashwin featured in 106 Tests, picked up a whopping 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls, and amassed 3,503 runs. He also claimed 228 wickets in the white-ball game across ODIs and T20Is.