NEW DELHI: Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has downplayed the debate surrounding his retirement from international cricket without a farewell game, stating it wasn’t something he desired or deemed necessary.
Speaking on his YouTube channel on Tuesday, the Tamil Nadu cricketer revealed he stepped away simply because he felt his time was up.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Ashwin’s announcement, made after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane, surprised the cricketing world. The draw at the Gabba marked the end of his illustrious international career, though many fans and pundits expected a more ceremonious conclusion.
“I think a lot. What to do in life. You all need to understand that this happens instinctively. If someone gets to know their job is done, once that thinking comes, there is nothing to think. People said a lot of things. I don’t think it is a big deal,” Ashwin said, dismissing speculation about his decision.
Reflecting on the circumstances of his retirement, Ashwin explained that his creativity on the field had run its course. “You think what happened. I did not play the first Test. I played the second, did not play the third. It was possible I could play the next or not play the next. This is a side of my creativity and I was looking to explore it. At that time, I felt my creativity was over, so it was over. It was simple.”
The 38-year-old also addressed the idea of a farewell game, firmly stating he wouldn’t want to be included in the team solely for sentimental reasons.
“What difference will this make if I came out with the ball and people are clapping? How long will people talk about it? When social media was not there, people talked about it and forgot after one week. There is no need for a farewell. The game has given us a lot and we have played with a lot of happiness,” he said.
Ashwin emphasised his commitment to cricket, even beyond the Indian dressing room. “I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room but from somewhere else. I want to be honest with the game. Imagine if I want to play a farewell Test but I do not deserve a place. Imagine, I am only in the team because it is my farewell Test. I don’t want that.”
He concluded by expressing satisfaction with his timing, stating, “I felt there was more strength in my cricket. I could have played more but it is always better to finish when people ask ‘why’ and not ‘why not.'”
