Ravichandran Ashwin, one of India’s finest-ever red-ball spinners, left the cricketing world stunned by announcing his retirement from international cricket on December 18, following India’s draw in the Gabba Test against Australia. The abrupt decision also surprised Ashwin’s childhood coach, Sunil Subramanian, who believed the legendary spinner had the ability to represent India in the 2025-2027 World Test Championship cycle.
The news broke during the post-match press conference, where Ashwin confirmed his retirement from all formats of international cricket. India skipper Rohit Sharma later revealed that Ashwin would not continue with the team for the remaining matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and would return to India on December 19. Speaking to Rediff.com, Subramanian acknowledged Ashwin’s decision but admitted he envisioned the spinner playing for at least a couple more years.
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“I was very surprised. He could have played the World Test Championship 2025-2027 cycle, there were quite a few home Tests, he could have called it quits after that. But he has retired now, we got to respect his decision, maybe he had his reasons,” Subramanian said.
“He was absolutely fearless. He always wanted to try out new things, to keep evolving, setbacks seemed to push him to do better. He has always a thinking person. He was his own man. It was his fearlessness, Ashwin was absolutely fearless. The brain would always react first, he was an intelligent cricketer, a good thinking cricketer,” he added.
Ashwin’s Iconic International Career
Known for his tactical brilliance and ability to adapt to various conditions, Ashwin debuted for India in 2011 against the West Indies. Over the next decade, he cemented his place as a pivotal figure in India’s Test setup. Across 113 Test matches, Ashwin took an astounding 537 wickets at an exceptional average, along with contributing over 3,500 runs with the bat. His all-round performances established him as one of the most complete players in Test cricket history.
A true master on Indian pitches, Ashwin became a nightmare for visiting teams with his sharp turn, variations, and uncanny ability to outthink batters. His exploits were instrumental in India’s dominance at home, and he played a key role in numerous historic Test victories.
Ashwin’s illustrious career included being named ICC Cricketer of the Year and ICC Test Cricketer of the Year in 2016, becoming only the third Indian to win the prestigious Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy. During that year, his all-round contributions with both bat and ball earned widespread recognition.
He also held the No. 1 spot in the ICC Test bowling rankings multiple times, reflecting his consistent excellence. Ashwin’s remarkable journey will undoubtedly be celebrated as one of the most iconic careers in cricket history, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire generations to come.