Ravichandran Ashwin proudly says he has answered his call from cricket after bringing down the curtain on his historic career with India.
The 38-year-old off-spinner announced his retirement from international cricket after an illustrious 14-year career in which he took 765 international wickets across all formats and became the seventh-highest Test wicket-taker of all time.
Speaking exclusively Sky Sports Cricket podcastAshwin revealed how his deep passion for cricket not only improved him as a player but also gave meaning to his life.
“I just gave it my all, even though I knew it wasn’t a popular or accepted method,” he said. “My journey is all mine.
“I have seen many cricketers over the years with exceptional skill and talent, but the ability to express or teach that to someone else is something very unique and something people only encounter if they have studied it themselves.
“To be successful, I had to give myself a wide range of knowledge so that I could say with confidence that this is a game that I love and can study and talk about for the rest of my life.
“I don’t regret it because I had to do it the hard way, but it left me with the idea that the game was my calling. People find their calling at different stages of their lives, but I’m glad that I found this game me and it gave me meaning in life.
“I have played Test cricket for so long that it has even taught me how to build and live my life. It is the most beautiful thing that has happened to me.”
After that, Ashwin announced his retirement India’s draw with Australia in the Brisbane Testgame for which he was not selected.
He revealed that he had previously considered retiring, but finally made the decision when his work could no longer be realized.
Cricket is not over in me, I imagine I will be doing a lot more in the next few years. That sign of being an Indian cricketer can be overwhelming. Now that is my back, I have an avenue that is exploring a lot more in the next few over the years as long as my body allows me to.
“I’ve never been a clingy person, I’ve never felt insecure in my life,” he added :
“I’ve always wanted to keep things as cool as possible because I don’t believe people celebrate me, I don’t believe the attention we get sometimes in India. That’s the game that’s always been in front of me, time.
“I thought about (retiring) a few times. For me, the day I woke up and felt that my creative side had no future or direction, that would be the day I would give it up. I suddenly felt that creative side was very good had no sides to explore.”
Ending his career as India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker (537) and hitting six hundreds and 14 half-centuries, Ashwin reflected on a watershed moment during England’s 2012 tour of India that helped shape him into the player he has become.
In the second Test in Mumbai, Ashwin took figures of 2-145 and was dismissed at the Wankhede Stadium by Kevin Pietersen, who top-scored with 186 as England cruised to a 10-run win to level the series.
It left an indelible mark on Ashwin, who added: “I have one regret in life. I know KP is a very proud man, I have seen him talk a lot about how he failed us in Mumbai.
“Very early in my career, in the formative years, mistakes on the technical side put me on the path to excellence.
“I wanted to play KP every time. He’s a great hitter, but anyone who didn’t have a really solid defense was the one I loved because I’m really good at picking up players that come out.” , to players who sweep.
“In that particular series against KP and Alastair Cook, one of the best batsmen I’ve played against, my set-ups were so bad. My left leg was coming out so far that I couldn’t get my length right at all.
“For the rest of my career, starting in 2012, it was all about finding different solutions. I’m very grateful that the series is going that way, because if it hadn’t happened, I might not have put myself on the road. because excelling as a bowler is more internal than external.”
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