Former India opener Aakash Chopra believes that Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden retirement is the beginning of a transition phase in the national cricket team in Tests. Aakash Chopra said that Ravichandran Ashwin might be disheartened when he was dropped after the Pink-ball Test in the BGT 2024-25.
Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane ended in a draw. He was not part of the series opener in Perth but played in Adelaide. He was dropped for the third Test at the Gabba, and Ravindra Jadeja performed well with the bat.
Ravichandran Ashwin Was Unlikely to Feature in Melbourne – Aakash Chopra
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that Ravichandran Ashwin was aware he was not the first-choice spinner for overseas games. Chopra stated that Ashwin seemed to have accepted this, but his frustration grew when he was dropped after the Pink-ball Test.
“What exactly has happened? There is a moment in everyone’s life, where you think, do I want to do this anymore? Am I OK with it? Ashwin must have had this in his mind for a long time that he does not play much overseas. He is not the no.1 spin option when it comes to overseas games. This was going on for quite some time. He made peace with it. Jaddu was always ahead of him overseas,” Chopra said.
“So, he made peace with it that Jadeja is playing. But when Sundar played the Perth Test, then he said, that’s it, I am done. Ashwin played the Pink-ball Test but when he was dropped from Gabba, he said, he was done. You are not serious in playing me in the XI. I did nothing wrong in Pink-ball Test to be dropped from the Gabba game. In Gabba, Jaddu made runs so Ashwin was unlikely to feature in Melbourne,” he added.
Nobody Had That Conversation with Ashwin, Is What I Feel – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said that if someone had advised him to stay for the England tour, Ravichandran Ashwin might have been open to it. Chopra stated that the lack of such a conversation left Ashwin to make his own decision.
“If someone would have said to Ashwin to wait as team might need two spinners in England and then there is a home series. There is only one format, so be around but nobody had that conversation with Ashwin is what I feel.”
“He went in the middle of the series, so there is a question about team’s composition, balance as well now. Retirement in the middle of the series is generally not a nice thing and that too when series is still open,” Chopra said.
“The wheel is set in motion. This is now the official start of the transition. One is gone. More can follow. Next three weeks are going to be very important. By 15th January, the picture will get clear, how this Indian team will go forward. Ashwin’s retirement has opened quite a few threads. There is no doubt in this,” Chopra said.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Continue Playing in IPL for CSK
Ravichandran Ashwin retired from international cricket with 765 wickets across all formats. He also made a notable impact with the bat in Test cricket, scoring six centuries and 14 half-centuries.
Ashwin debuted in 2010 and played 287 matches, including 106 Tests where he claimed 537 wickets. The spinner also took 156 wickets in ODIs and 72 in T20Is. He will continue playing for the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.
Also read: “End will come”: Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Joe Root’s retirements decided by Greg Chappell