Why Ravichandran Ashwin Chose to Retire Now: Timing, Impact, and Future Implications

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Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin called it quits from international cricket, taking many by surprise with his retirement announcement coming amidst the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test series Down Under.

Ashwin stunned the cricketing world on Wednesday (December 18) when he brought down the curtains on his international career moments after the rain-hit Brisbane Test ended in a draw.

The seasoned spinner Ashwin joined skipper Rohit Sharma during the post-match press conference to announce his retirement from international cricket, keeping his speech brief and not taking any other questions.

Why Ashwin chose to retire now? - Timing

Former Indian cricketers, including Sunil Gavaskar and Harbhajan Singh, believe the timing was not right as the senior spinner could have waited until the five-match series finished to make the announcement.

But the 38-year-old seems to have made up his mind way before India toured Down Under. It is understood that retirement was on his mind after the home series against New Zealand, which India shockingly lost 0-3.

Emergence of Washington Sundar

The veteran spinner had made it clear to the team management that if he was not guaranteed a place in the playing eleven during the Australia series, he would not even travel Down Under.

Ashwin's decision not to wait till the series against Australia got over also indicated that the decision to drop him for Washington Sundar in the opening game at Perth was what could have been the final nail.

While India played Washington ahead of Ashwin in Perth before the veteran returned for the pink ball Test, Ravindra Jadeja was preferred as the lone spinner in the Brisbane Test, indicating what the future could be especially in overseas tours.

An astute reader of the game both on and off the field, Ashwin might have gauged what was in store going forward and that perhaps made it easier for him to take a call on his international career.

There was every chance of him not featuring in the remaining two Tests in Melbourne and Sydney as well as in the World Test Championship Final, which is slated to be held in Lord's next year.

Also, the next Test series is in England (June to August) where India might not take along more than two specialist spinners who are also batters. India had already left behind Axar Patel and an injured Kuldeep Yadav for the tour Down Under.

Plus, India's next home Test series is in October-November. So, 10 months is a long time and once this World Test Championship cycle ends, one is looking at 2027. Ashwin would have been 40 by then with transition in Indian cricket hopefully complete.

Ashwin majorly featured in the longest format for India, and played the odd white-ball game when he received the chance with other younger talents above him in the pecking order when it comes to the limited over game.

After 537 Test wickets, at the age of 38, and for a man who wore the India colours with a lot of pride, Ashwin didn't want to just sit there in the dressing room wearing a fluorescent green bib that is reserved for the reserves.

The New Zealand series obviously gave the signs when he ended with nine wickets from three games with two played on tailor-made surfaces in Pune and Mumbai. Washington, in comparison, took 12 in Pune, a match in which Ashwin managed five.

Rohit wasn't present in Perth when the playing eleven was finalised and it could be safely concluded that it was coach Gautam Gambhir, who had a say on who will be India's No. 1 off-spinner going forward and the name wasn't Ashwin.

Impact and Future Implications

There is a dearth of quality off-spinners in India, but with the emergence of Washington, who stepped up big time with the ball earlier this year, there is some hope in the department for the team management.

Ashwin's retirement impact will be felt at times, but Team India had to move on to the next crop of spin-bowling all-rounders with Washington Sundar and Axar Patel potentially taking the spin slots of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who may also be playing one of his last few Tests in Australia.

The senior spinner was often not used in overseas tours, and was majorly used in the sub-continent, where the conditions favoured spin bowling. Ashwin will be truly missed with the ball and bat, But, Team India needed to look for future prospects with age also being a factor.