“I Was Pretty Old…”: Ravichandran Ashwin Reveals Why He Retired From International Cricket

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Cric News India

August 22, 2025 0 478

Ashwin Opens Up to Rahul Dravid

Ravichandran Ashwin said sitting out of overseas Tests pushed him to retire from international cricket.

The past eight months have seen several stalwarts of Indian cricket step away from the international stage, marking the beginning of a transition phase. The sequence of retirements started in Australia last year when Ravichandran Ashwin announced his decision in Brisbane after India drew the third Test at The Gabba. Accompanied by then-captain Rohit Sharma, Ashwin revealed his retirement at the post-match press conference.

Months later, Ashwin opened up about what led him to this decision. Speaking to former India head coach Rahul Dravid on his YouTube show, the veteran off-spinner admitted that repeatedly missing out on playing away Tests eventually influenced his call.

“I was pretty old, I must admit. But going on tours, and having to just sit out (a) lot more, eventually got to me,” Ashwin told Dravid. “I mean, not in terms of not wanting to contribute to the team, but you’re thinking if I would rather be at home, spending time with children. They are also growing up, and what am I actually doing? So, I just felt like okay… In my head, I always decided that I would retire at 34-35. But just the fact that I could not play a lot in between,” he added.

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Ashwin’s career remains one of the most illustrious in Indian cricket. He is only the second Indian bowler after Anil Kumble to take more than 500 Test wickets. Since making his Test debut in November 2011, he picked up 383 wickets in 65 home Tests and another 150 wickets in 40 away matches. He also claimed four wickets in the only neutral Test he played — the 2019–21 World Test Championship final against New Zealand in the UK.

In December last year, Ashwin confirmed his retirement from international cricket with immediate effect. However, he stated he would remain connected to the sport, not only as a player in the IPL and TNPL but possibly in other capacities as well.