“Ravichandran Ashwin should have waited…” – WC-winning captain angry at spinner’s retirement

India legend Ravichandran Ashwin revealed the reason behind his decision to retire midway through the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series in Australia However, former India captain Kapil Dev expressed his disappointment over Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision, adding that he should have waited.

India tested three spinners during the first three Tests of the BGT. Washington Sundar played the first match and Ravichandran Ashwin replaced him for the second. Ravindra Jadeja took Ashwin’s place for the third Test. Ashwin surprised everyone with his retirement announcement after the third Test in Brisbane.

Ravichandran Ashwin is a very strong headed boy – Kapil Dev

Speaking to Gulf News, Kapil Dev spoke about Ashwin’s decision to retire midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Dev stated that Ashwin could have waited until after the Sydney Test to make the announcement, adding that his timing could have been better.

“Ashwin is a very strong guy. It’s good to see those characters in cricketers. I felt a bit sad when he left in the middle of the tour. He was a great cricketer that India has produced and served the country very well. game, but he should have waited and done otherwise. However, what he did for the country is amazing,” Kapil said.

The 38-year-old spinner’s performance was below his usual standards in the home series against New Zealand, taking nine wickets at an average of 41.22. Ashwin retired with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, including 37 five-wicket hauls. I was just behind Anil Kumble (619) among India’s all-time wicket-takers.

He could have been hurt by being pushed behind Sundar – Bharat Arun

Bharat Arun, the former bowling coach, said Ashwin might have been “hurt” after being replaced by Washington Sundar in the first Test. Arun added that while Ashwin had previously been replaced by Ravindra Jadeja on overseas tours, this situation seemed to affect him more.

“In the first Test of the tour, a big star like Ravichandran Ashwin was dismissed by a youngster like Washington Sundar. That would have definitely hurt him. In the past, Ravindra Jadeja played well ahead of Ashwin on tours overseas but I don’t I don’t think Ashwin has been affected by it but I think this time he might have been hurt by being pushed behind Sundar in the pecking order,” Bharat Arun. he said

Ravichandran Ashwin is 8th in the list of leading Test Wicket-Takers

Ravichandran Ashwin retired as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricket, with 765 wickets in all formats, behind only Anil Kumble (953). Ashwin is 8th among the leading run-getters in Test cricket. He also scored 3,503 runs at an average of 25.76, including six centuries in Tests.

The leading evidence bearer of all time is Muttiah Muralitharan (800), followed by Shane Warne (708) and James Anderson (704). Ashwin is expected to continue playing for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, after being bought for Rs 9.75 crore in the mega auction.

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