SYDNEY: Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from international cricket with immediate effect, announcing his decision at the end of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Brisbane. He will be leaving for India on Thursday.
“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level,” Ashwin said after the Brisbane Test at a press conference. “I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to express that and probably showcase that in club-level cricket, but this will be the last day [for India].
Ashwin, currently with the Indian team on a Test tour to Australia, ended his India career with a total of 765 international wickets from 287 matches.
Ashwin, the country’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, was part of the team in the second Test against Australia in which he secured only one wicket.
The 38-year-old veteran spinner made the announcement following India’s drawn third Test against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday, December 18, marking the end of a stellar 14-year international career.
Out of 287, he played 106 Test matches and claimed 537 wickets with 37 five-wicket hauls. He played also played his last ODI against Australia Chennai in October 2023 in which he claimed one wicket. Ashwin’s last T20 was against England at Adelaide in 2022. He dismissed 72 in total 65 matches.
Across all formats, Ashwin has grabbed 765 international wickets in 287 matches, ranking him second among Indian bowlers, behind Anil Kumble’s 956 scalps. Globally, he stands 11th on the all-time list.