"Felt it on Day 4 And Called it on Day 5" - Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals When Retirement Decision Was Made

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Veteran Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said his international retirement decision was instinctive, but something that was on his mind for a while as the veteran spinner returned home from Australia on Thursday (December 19) morning.

Ashwin stunned the cricketing world by bidding aideu to international cricket moments after the Brisbane Test on Wednesday (December 18), leading to speculation of the reason behind his abrupt announcement.

The 38-year-old, who felt a sense of relief and satisfaction after the announcement, revealed that it was emotional, but not a difficult decision, which was made within the final two days of play at the Gabba, where the senior spinner did not feature in the playing 11.

...It's not. It's emotional for a lot of people. It will be emotional, maybe it will sink in. But for me, it's a great sense of relief and satisfaction...It had been running in my head for a while but it was very instinctive. I felt it on day 4 and called it on day 5..," Ashwin told reporters on his arrival to his home.

Ashwin made a quiet early-morning return to the country on Thursday (December 19). The spinner was seen being escorted out of the Chennai International Airport by local officials as fans took photographs before he left with his family without talking to the waiting media.

The veteran spinner, who was warmly greeted by fans and his parent at home, gave his first reaction to the media as he continued to stand by his words "don't think Ashwin the cricketer is done."

A Test legend, Ashwin bows out of the international stage with 765 wickets across formats. He finished his Test career as the second highest wicket-taker for India with 537 scalps to his name. The Tamil Nadu star is still expected to play in club level cricket.

"I do feel there is bit of punch left in me as a cricketer but I would like to showcase that in club level cricket," Ashwin said in a brief statement during a joint press conference with skipper Rohit Sharma in Brisbane at the end of the drawn third Test.

Ashwin will go back to where it all started for him in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Chennai Super Kings (CSK) bought the spinner during the IPL 2025 Mega Auction last month. The seasoned spinner once again stressed that he is not done with cricket completeley.

"...I am going to play for CSK and don't be surprised if I try and aspire to play for as long as I can. I don't think Ashwin the cricketer is done, I think Ashwin the Indian cricketer has probably called it time. That's it," Ashwin added, hinting that he could play way beyond the next season for CSK.

Before boarding an evening flight for Chennai, Ashwin also addressed his teammates, assuring them of being there for them as and when they need. "The cricketer in me, the Indian cricketer, international cricketer might have come to an end, but the cricket nut in me will never come to an end," he told the dressing room in a farewell address shared by the BCCI on social media.