Larger Than Life: Unplayable R Ashwin Bids Adieu to International Cricket With no DRS on Retirement Call | Opinion

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Often, we have heard, that nobody is bigger than the game. On Wednesday, a certain man answering to the name of R Ashwin emerged larger than life size as he waved goodbye to fans. Sadly, fans never got to see him bowl one last time at the Gabba, as he had not been picked in the Playing XI.

We will have to make do with memories from the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide, where Ashwin looked so ordinary. What is it that transpired in the course of one Test match, Ashwin wanted to pack up from international cricket and leave?

Well, just as Ashwin would bamboozle batters with massive variety at his disposal with the red ball and the white ball, he produced one hell of a surprise again. He dropped the retirement word on Wednesday, leaving players and fans in a daze. Also Read: Opinion | Ability to Evolve Made Ashwin Special Bowler

Ashwin quitting international cricket, no replay, no DRS this is crazy. If only one could have convinced Ashwin, hang on, play more for India. No way, Ashwin was and is The Lord and Master of all decisions. He decided not on instinct how time had come for him to leave international cricket. Also Read: Exclusive: Ashwin will inspire generations - L Balaji

His goodbye makes you feel weak as you will not get to see the master spinner, all guile and cunning unleash the next missile. Stats can only portray a dull image for those who do not love cricket. Also Read: Exclusive: Ash Anna has made TN & Indian Players Fearless - Baba Aparajith

Ashwin was a romantic relic, indeed someone you fell in love with. Not one person will say a bad word about him. He played with passion and says he will do the same thing in club cricket, which means the IPL for CSK and the state league in Tamil Nadu.

When a star athlete retires, it should make you wonder why. Look at how trolls are gunning for the heads of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, wanting them to retire. Nobody in the wildest dream would have imagined Ashwin would walk away. No farewell match, nothing like that. He shows up at the press conference with Rohit Sharma and just says he is done with cricket for India!

A few before Ashwin have also done this, and quit suddenly. But for Ashwin to pack up with more Tests to go in the BGT Series, he has caught everyone napping. As Ajinkya Rahane said in a post on social media, how hard it was to field in slips when Ash was bowling.

What Ashwin has earned is not just records and wickets, it is unlimited love. He leaves cricket orphaned. For connoisseurs of off-spin, this is a sad day.

People can compare him with predecessors like Harbhajan Singh, S.Venkataraghavan and even EAS Prasanna. Ashwin was unique in all ways. He knew his limitations as well, which is in fitness and how he may not have been the sharpest fielder.

Where Ashwin was different, he innovated and experimented. He was an educator as well as a student. He learned for himself as well to get even more clever and flummox the batter, be it right or left-handers.

If Venkat was all about accuracy and landing the ball on the same spot, Prasanna deceived batsmen with his flight and loop. Ashwin was special, he could produce more revs on the ball, and impart different types of spin. For all those who have watched his videos and replays, he dared and took wickets. The way he kept batters guessing was a torture. To read Ashwin was never easy.

For someone who has been so creative even on his YouTube Channel, he will be doing so much more in life. It will all revolve around cricket. And is Chepauk in Chennai excited? Of course, yes, Ashwin and MS Dhoni jamming up again in IPL 2025. It cannot get better than this!