India’s veteran all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket on December 18 (Wednesday). His decision was surprising during the press conference after the third test match of the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 concluded with a draw at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Also, the Indian captain Rohit Sharma clarified that Ashwin would travel back to India on the next day (December 19, Thursday) and wouldn’t stay with the rest of the team for the upcoming matches in Melbourne and Sydney. Moreover, the Hitman revealed that he was aware of Ashwin’s plans during the opening test match in Perth itself and decided to include him in the Playing XI of the Day/ Night test (2nd test match of the series) in Adelaide.

Finally, the 38-year-old off-spinner ended his cricket career with 765 wickets out of 287 international matches (379 innings) played, which includes a majority of wickets bagged in test format:

• Tests: 537 wickets in 200 innings (106 matches).
• ODIs: 156 wickets in 114 innings (116 matches).
• T20Is: 72 wickets in 65 innings (65 matches).

Since his international cricket debut in 2010, Ashwin contributed effectively as a lower-order right-handed batter in these three formats:

• Tests: 3,503 runs in 151 innings (Best Score: 124, Centuries: 6, and Half-centuries:14)
• ODIs: 707 runs in 63 innings (Best Score: 65)
• T20Is: 184 runs in 19 innings (Best Score: 31)

Let’s find out how Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement as India’s one of the greatest legendary test cricketers left behind a legacy of stunning achievements.

Ravichandran Ashwin’s Emotional Statement During Post-Match Press Conference

After a 14-year international cricket career, Ashwin gave an emotional speech during the press conference attended along with Rohit Sharma to give clarity upon his decision:

“Yeah! This would be my last day as Team India’s cricket player in all formats of international cricket. Although I feel a bit of energy left inside me as a cricketer, I prefer to exhibit my skill at club-level cricket. There were a lot of fun memories with my teammates. A few names include Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, and Cheteshwar Pujara, who have taken superb catches around the bat to give me the wickets I have bagged these years.

There are several people whom I should thank, but I might fail in my duties by not thanking the BCCI and my teammates.

Most importantly, I wanted to thank the Australian cricket team for being one of the toughest rivals, whom I enjoyed playing against. It’s truly a very emotional moment and right now I feel I am not in a position to answer all your questions.

Thanks to the journalist who has written good things about me and negative remarks occasionally. This is a relationship we would maintain forever and for the upcoming generation of cricketers to get the same amount of support you have given them. Once again Thank You for everything I have experienced over these years,” Ashwin said.

Ravichandran Ashwin Concludes His Cricket Career with Remarkable Achievements in Tests

Ashwin’s retirement as India’s one of greatest bowlers marks the conclusion of his successful international career in style with countless notable achievements in test cricket, out of which a few are listed below:

1. Most Player of the Series (POTS) awards in Tests:

2. Second-Highest Indian Wicket Taker in Tests:

3. Leading Indian Wicket Taker in Tests at Home:

4. Fourth-Highest Wicket-Taking Spin Bowler in Tests:

5. Top Indian Wicket Taker in Tests vs Australia:

6. Second Most 5-Wicket Hauls in Tests: