Team India Ace Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin Announces Retirement From International Cricket

Indian team ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket following the third Test match against Australia in the Border Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane on Wednesday, December 18. Ashwim announced in the post-match press conference when beside skipper Rohit Sharma after the game resulted in a draw. The veteran spinner played the second match of the five-match Test series in Adelaide but was later replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for the match in Brisbane. Notably, Ashwin retires from the Gentleman’s game as the second-highest wicket-taker for Team India in Tests with 537 wickets in 106 games, only behind Anil Kumble (619 wickets).

However, he will continue playing in T20 tournaments and represent the Chennai franchise for the Indian T20 League 2025. 

I won't take too much of your time. Today will be the last day for me as an India cricketer," Ashwin stated at the end of the drawn third Test in the press conference with captain Rohit Sharma. He also refused to take any questions and left after giving the statement.

The right-hand off-spinner played the day-night Pink ball Test match in Adelaide and picked up one wicket.

"He was very, very sure of his decision. We should stand by what he wants," said Indian skipper Rohit Sharma after Ashwin left the podium.

With the 38-year-old spinner stepping down from the international stage, he is leaving a mammoth legacy and massive space for the youngsters who need to step up to fill his presence. 

Ashwin was the prominent face behind India’s rise in the most extended game format between 2014 and 2019.

In the white-ball format, Ashwin made 116 ODI appearances, taking 156 wickets at an average of 33.20, with a best of 4/25. He also scored 707 runs and one half-century. He is India's 13th-highest wicket-taker in ODIs. In the game's shortest format, Ashwin picked up 72 scalps in 65 matches at an average of 23.22 with best figures of 4/8. He also scored 184 runs in 19 innings at an average of 26.28, with best score of 31. Ash is the sixth-highest wicket-taker for India in T20Is.

With 765 wickets in 287 matches, Ashwin is India’s second-highest wicket taken across all game formats, which comes next to Kumble’s record of 953. He also won the 2011 World ODI Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy with India.