Ravichandran Ashwin reveals the trigger for his retirement amid IND vs SA row
The India Test team appears to be on a run that is wreaking havoc on long-standing records. Around this time last year, New Zealand ended India’s 12-year streak of remaining unbeaten in home Test series. This year, South Africa clinched their first series win in India in 25 years, completing a 2-0 whitewash in the IND vs SA contest. Defeating India at home in red-ball cricket was once considered an ambitious dream, but that perception has shifted dramatically over the past year as the fortress has steadily crumbled. Meanwhile, as the team navigates this disastrous phase, former spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has opened up about how this downturn is connected to his retirement.
IND vs SA disaster reminds Ravichandran Ashwin of his retirement decision
The whitewash in the recently concluded IND vs SA Test series has left fans and the cricket fraternity agitated. The 2-0 defeat to the reigning WTC champions is not a one-off instance that can be brushed aside. This latest setback, combined with the hosts’ 0-3 loss in the India vs New Zealand series, points to a deeper rot in the red-ball set-up. Scrutiny has now shifted to India head coach Gautam Gambhir, who has lost two of the four Test series played at home.
Meanwhile, while reflecting on the IND vs SA Test series, former India spin all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about his retirement. One of India’s highest wicket-takers in the format, Ashwin had announced his international retirement abruptly last year during the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Earlier, the spinner had mentioned that he preferred stepping away rather than remaining a non-playing member of the India squad.
However, he has now opened up about another factor that contributed to his decision to retire. After India’s home defeat to England in 2012, a young Ashwin had promised himself that he would walk away from the game if the team ever lost a home series again. From 2012 onwards, India remained unbeaten on their own soil until 2024. Ashwin, along with Ravindra Jadeja, formed a lethal spin partnership that played a major role in establishing India’s home dominance and turning the country into a fortress for visiting teams.
However, once the Kiwis stripped India of that tag last year with their 3-0 whitewash, Ravichandran Ashwin took a decisive step toward his eventual exit. As history repeated itself a little over a year later, the former spinner recalled how the humiliation at the hands of New Zealand had signaled that his time was coming to an end. The BGT eventually became the final nail in the coffin, as the all-rounder announced his retirement midway through the five-match series down under.
“I made myself a promise after the series loss against England in 2012 that if we ever lose another home series, I’ll retire. New Zealand series loss is eventually the reason why I am sitting at home today, it broke me," Ashwin said. “And I hope this happens to players after this series and they come out to change themselves," he added.
Opening up further about his retirement, Ashwin spoke about the roles Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir played in the situation. The former spinner clarified that no individual had any influence over his decision. In fact, Rohit, the Test captain at the time, along with head coach Gambhir, urged Ashwin to reconsider his call.
“No one told me that you should go, no one told me that there is no place for you in the team. Actually before I took the decision 2-3 people told me not to take it but I took my decision. In fact, they wanted me to play more," Ashwin said.
“Rohit Sharma also told me to think about it, Gauti bhai also told me to think again. But I didn’t talk much about it (retirement) with Ajit Agarkar. “The decision is very personal when it comes to retirement. These are all very individual decisions," he added.
