Ravichandran Ashwin’s father has shared the shocking details of the off-spinner’s unexpected retirement from international cricket. Ashwin announced his retirement from all three formats of the game India After the Gabba Test in Brisbane ended in a draw on 18 December.
Speaking about the shock decision, Ravichandran revealed that he learned about Ashwin’s retirement only at the last minute, adding fuel to speculations among cricket fans about the call-up.
Adding a new twist to Ravichandran Ashwin’s father retirement speculations
Ravichandran Ashwin’s father admitted that retirement was the cricketer’s personal decision, but he hinted that there could be deeper reasons behind his sudden decision, including feelings of humiliation.
Ravichandran told News18, “I also came to know (about his retirement) at the last moment. Retirement is his wish and desire; I can’t get into it, but there could be many reasons for how he gave it. Only Ashwin knows, maybe it’s humiliating.”
Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket has not only shocked the cricketing world but also deeply affected his family. His father Ravichandran revealed the emotional shock they experienced at the star cricketer’s sudden revelation.
An emotional moment for the family: Ravichandran
Ravichandran said the all-rounder’s sudden decision to retire after representing India for nearly 15 years has come as a shock to the entire family. However, the spin master’s father hinted that he had been thinking about it for a while due to the challenges he faced off the field, including not getting much luck on overseas tours.
Ashwin’s father later claimed that the off-spinner faced abuse and pressure, forcing the cricketer to take the call alone. Notably, Ashwin is often left out of the playing XI in overseas Tests, particularly in England and Australia, while Ravindra Jadeja is often preferred as the sole spinner due to his superior batting skills.
He added: “There’s no doubt about it (an emotional moment for the family) because he was on the field for 14-15 years. The sudden change, retirement really kind of shocked us. At the same time, we also expected it because the insult was going on. How long can he endure all this? Probably, he would have decided himself.”
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Ravichandran Ashwin’s father shares mixed emotions over his son’s retirement
On the other hand, Ravichandran Ashwin’s father Ravichandran admitted to having mixed emotions and he respects and accepts his son’s choice but at the same time wishes the spinner to continue playing for the national team.
He noted that Ashwin’s unexpected announcement made him both proud and a little disappointed, something many fans across the country felt.
Signing off, Ravichandran said, “I don’t know what was going through his mind. He just announced. I accepted with full satisfaction. I had no feeling for it. But I was very happy that he retired, and the other side was not happy, because he had to continue.”
Interestingly, legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar criticized the timing of Ashwin’s retirement as he felt that the rise of Washington Sundar might have played a role in his decision to leave the Australian tour mid-series.
