Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has spoken about his retirement and backed head coach Gautam Gambhir, saying he is within his rights to take calls in the interest of the team, even if it means senior players have to move on.
Ashwin announced his retirement in December 2024 during the India-Australia Test series, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, after the third Test in Brisbane. He had played the second Test in Adelaide but was left out for the Brisbane match, where Ravindra Jadeja replaced him. He finished as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 wickets in 106 matches, behind Anil Kumble (619).
Many had questioned the timing of his decision, given he was still within reach of Kumble’s record.
Speaking at the RevSportz Conclave, Ashwin explained the thinking behind his call.
“One of my strongest assets, I feel, is my ability to make decisions. Whether it’s right or wrong is for people to debate. But at the end of the day, it’s my life. I need to do it on my terms. The moment, I think, at Perth, when we had Jaddu and myself as the lead spinners in the side, and Washy played that game in Perth, and then the next game, again, I came in, and then I had to again make way, was kind of suggestive or indicative to me that my time was up.
And if somebody else had to come and take up that place, by all means, they need their space and time. And I’m not one of those guys who will hang around, you know, wanting to see if I can make a comeback. I’ve had far too many. I’ve come far, far too much in my life to be able to, you know, dilly-dally around with all those things,” Ashwin said.
He was also asked about Gambhir and the talk around favouritism. Ashwin said the coach’s role is to take decisions for the team.
“If somebody has to have angst against Gautam, it’s me, right? I come out on his second or third tour as coach…” he said wittingly.
Ashwin added that even if Gambhir believed he or other senior players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should step aside, it would be acceptable.
“My dad is huge well wisher. He might have some angst on the outside. When I came back from Australia, he said something in the media. I have consistently told him that ‘do not speak ill of a player when I am in the house’. We have fought over these things. Gautam, the coach, has a job to do for me in many ways, and even if he thought that I must move on or Virat must move on or Rohit must move on, it’s okay; it’s fine because he has a job to do. And at that particular instance, if I felt bitter about it, that’s also okay because it’s my emotion. But if you detach yourself from that, it’s clear to me that he has a job to do, and maybe I do not have a future in his regime,” Ashwin added.
He also spoke about dealing with expectations and staying grounded.
“But I have always wanted to shed ego as the first thing in my life, and I’m still in the process of shedding ego. We all are human beings. It comes to us. But if you detach yourself, things do make sense. Sometimes, because of the adulation we get in this country, we do end up thinking that we are invincible, which is not the case.”
