A heavy sense of deja vu accompanied R Ashwin’s retirement from worldwide cricket because it reminded the cricket fraternity of the times when MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble, identical to the wily off-spinner, exited the scene abruptly in the midst of a sequence towards Australia. Dhoni retired from red-ball cricket in 2014, whereas Kumble stepped away from the sport in 2008. While Ashwin and Dhoni performed their ultimate Test Down Under, and referred to as it quits on their very own phrases, Kumble, whose retirement was prompted by a finger harm , performed his final match in New Delhi.
Dhoni introduced his sudden retirement from Test cricket in December 2014, proper in the midst of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, with India trailing 0-2 within the four-match sequence.
His announcement got here fully out of the blue, as he had not given any indicators of stepping down from Test cricket.
Ashwin’s choice too got here as a little bit of a shock, particularly contemplating the staff’s reliance on him.
India and Australia are at the moment locked 1-1 within the 5 match Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Both Dhoni and Ashwin made daring choices to retire in Australia, a rustic the place Indian cricket typically faces its biggest challenges. They left the Indian staff a participant brief with the sequence hanging in stability, one thing the legendary Sunil Gavaskar did not recognize.
“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the third Test in 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar informed the broadcasters after Ashwin’s announcement.
However, when Kumble stepped away after the third Test in Delhi, India had been main the four-match rubber 1-0 and ultimately clinched the sequence 2-0 at residence.
While Kumble and Dhoni are former India captains, Ashwin by no means led the nationwide staff however his retirement leaves an enormous void within the spin-bowling division. The duty will now be on Ravindra Jadeja, who’s already 36, and the opposite youthful spinners to hold the staff.
Kumble (619) and Ashwin (537) are India’s high two wicket-takers, and like Dhoni, who led the nation to 2 World Cup victories, a Champions Trophy title, and its first-ever ascent to the highest of the Test rankings, left an indelible legacy.
Ashwin, 38, introduced his choice in the course of the press meet in Gabba that occurred after the third Test between India and Australia resulted in a draw.
Ashwin has taken his wickets at a median of 24 in 106 Test matches. He can also be seventh on the general listing of wicket-takers.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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