“I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to … showcase that in club-level cricket. I had a lot of fun. I must say, I created a lot of memories alongside Rohit (Sharma) and several of my other teammates,” Ashwin said at the press conference.
Just few moments before the annoucement, Virat Kohli and Ashwin shared an emotional moment as cricketers, it was moment of pure love for the game that the two greats share. Virat and Ashwin hugged each other following a lengthy conversation in the dressing room as Ashwin wiped his eyes, sparking speculations on his retirement. Fans on social media got all the feels and shared the video as the spinner wore India jersey for the last time.
Watch the video here:
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Emotional moments from the Indian dressing room ????#AUSvINDOnStar #BorderGavaskarTrophy #Ashwin #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/92a4NqNsyP
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 18, 2024
During his long stint with the Indian team, Ashwin has kept on reinventing himself to keep pace with the evolving game, something that impressed the iconic Sachin Tendulkar.
“From perfecting the carrom ball to contributing crucial runs, you always found a way to win. Your journey shows that true greatness lies in never being afraid to experiment and evolve. Your legacy will inspire one and all,” Tendulkar wrote on ‘X’.
Ashwin’s longtime India teammate Virat Kohli penned an emotional tribute and recalled their “14 years of camaraderie”, current coach Gautam Gambhir hailed his influence on future generations, and Ajinkya Rahane reminisced how his every ball felt like a wicket-taking delivery.
“I’ve played with you for 14 years and when you told me today you’re retiring, it made me a bit emotional and the flashbacks of all those years playing together came to me,” Kohli posted in X.
With 765 international scalps in his bag, Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker from India after Anil Kumble. Ashwin has taken 537 wickets at an average of 24 in 106 Test matches. He is also seventh on the overall list of wicket-takers.
“The privilege of seeing you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern cricket is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world! I know that generations of bowlers to come will say that I became a bowler coz of Ashwin! U will be missed brother,” Gambhir said.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri hailed Ashwin’s craft and contribution to Indian cricket.
“Hey Ash, congratulations on a magnificent career, old boy. You were an invaluable asset during my tenure as coach and enriched the game immensely with your skill and craft. God bless,” wrote Shastri who is now doing commentary in the five-match series.” India’s highest wicket-taker Anil Kumble lauded Ashwin on his illustrious career.
