Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, 39, has addressed speculation surrounding his retirement from international cricket, stating firmly that the decision was his alone and not influenced by team management or selectors. Ashwin's announcement to retire from Test cricket midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane last year had taken the cricket world by surprise. He later retired from the Indian Premier League (IPL) in August of this year.
In a video released on his YouTube channel on Thursday, Ashwin clarified that "no one forced" him to retire. He stated, "No one told me that you should go, no one told me that there is no place for you in the team. Actually before I took the decision 2-3 people told me not to take it but I took my decision. In fact, they wanted me to play more".
Ashwin specifically addressed the roles of Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar in his decision. While acknowledging that then-captain Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir had encouraged him to reconsider his decision, he said, "Rohit Sharma (the then captain) also told me to think about it, Gauti bhai (Gautam Gambhir) also told me to think again. But I didn't talk much about it (retirement) with Ajit Agarkar (chairman of selectors)". This statement clarifies that neither Gambhir nor Agarkar played a significant role in his final decision.
Ashwin emphasized the personal nature of retirement decisions, saying, "The decision is very personal when it comes to retirement. These are all very individual decisions". He had previously expressed his reluctance to remain with the team if he was not a regular member of the playing XI.
Ashwin's clarification aims to put an end to any rumors that he was pressured into retirement by the team management. His statements highlight the importance of individual choice in such career decisions and dispel any notions of external influence.
In the same address, Ashwin also touched upon the topic of senior players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who have both retired from Test and T20 cricket but have been included in the upcoming ODIs against Australia. Ashwin stressed the importance of clear communication between the team management, selectors, and these experienced players. He believes that Rohit and Kohli still have a lot to offer Indian cricket and that their experience is invaluable.
"I don't think any selector or coach will have it in them to say that Virat and Rohit's services are no longer needed. That experience you cannot buy in a store," Ashwin stated. He further added, "There is no doubt that both Rohit and Virat want to be there (in the 2027 WC). The preparation that we are seeing from them, it is an investment they are putting into their bodies to be ready for the World Cup".
