Ravichandran Ashwin: India’s Spin King Retires

Ravichandran Ashwin isn’t known to show too much emotion on a cricket field. One of the greatest thinkers of the game ever produced anywhere in the world, Ashwin has always been more head than heart. This isn’t to say that there wasn’t any heart, quite the polar opposite: how else would he have bowled over 27,000 balls in Test cricket alone, often in excruciating weather conditions, without the organ that propels passion? But usually, the off-spinner from Tamil Nadu has, on principle, been mind over all other matters.

But there was nothing usual about this day, Wednesday, December 18, on what was the final day of a rain-affected Test match at the Gabba in Brisbane, a drenched draw that he wasn’t even a part of; for, in the most unusual of ways, the greatest off-spinner born in India chose to call it a day as an international cricketer.

Before the world knew what he was about to announce and shortly preceding the end of the third Test in a stalemate, the broadcast camera caught Ashwin—dressed in the substitute’s yellow bib—share an emotional moment with the man seated beside him in the dressing room, Virat Kohli, even as the rain pelted down. Quiet words were exchanged, before a startled Kohli leaned into an embrace, following which the man from Tamil Nadu nodded his head and wiped a heavy eyelid. Moments later, he followed captain Rohit Sharma to the press conference room and said: “Hello everyone, I really didn’t want to make this about myself… This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level…”

And just like that, suddenly and altogether out of the blue, a stellar career had ended, one that had seen 537 Test wickets, the second-most by an Indian with the red ball, inclusive of 37 five-wicket hauls, 8 match 10-fors, which won India innumerable matches and series, many of those souvenirs and Man of the Match/Series trophies filling up the trophy cabinet in his home. Ashwin leaves behind a splendid legacy as not just a fearsome strike bowler, often lining up at the beginning of an innings to bowl with the new ball, but a great all-rounder too, with six Test centuries peppering his illustrious career.

The last of those hundreds arrived as recently as September, in front of his beloved home fans in Chennai. In what was the first Test of a long red ball season for India, Ashwin walked in with the hosts in a spot of deep bother at 144/6 against Bangladesh and struck a magical 113. Then he took 6/88 during the chase to wrap up the win, which in turn would turn out to be his last Test five-for as well.

So, his final set of batting and bowling landmarks in the game that he has given so much to fittingly arrived in his backyard.

Ashwin couldn’t have known it then, but India’s fortunes in Test cricket were to take a turn for the worse shortly after. First, they were blanked 0-3 by New Zealand at home, ensuring that Ashwin suffered a Test series loss in India for the first time in 12 years, otherwise used to playing a big role in keeping the winning streak going. Then, as the team travelled to Australia, Ashwin was unused during the first Test in Perth, which India won, and ended up featuring in the day-night Test in Adelaide, which they lost, forcing four losses in a row for the 38-year-old to end his career.

Perhaps the losses played a role in the seemingly sudden decision that he took; perhaps he was long contemplating the move due to his growing years. But when it was announced, the sport – and not just the country – had to digest the news and bid farewell to one of its finest students, ever-evolving, ever-changing, ever-bamboozling, in this case for one final time with his unforeseen departure from the game that loves him so very much.

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