A heavy sense of deja vu accompanied R Ashwin's retirement from international cricket as it reminded the cricketing fraternity of the time when MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble, like the wily off-spinner, abruptly left the scene in the middle of a series against Australia. Dhoni retired from red-ball cricket in 2014, while Kumble retired from the game in 2008. While Ashwin and Dhoni played their last Test Down Under and called it quits on their own terms, Kumble, whose retirement was prompted by a finger injury, was playing his last match in New Delhi.
Dhoni announced his sudden retirement from Test cricket in December 2014, right in the middle of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, with India trailing 0-2 in the four-match series.
His announcement came completely out of the blue as he had not given any indication that he would be retiring from Test cricket.
Ashwin's decision also came as a surprise, especially considering the team's dependence on him.
India and Australia are currently locked 1-1 in the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Both Dhoni and Ashwin made bold decisions to retire in Australia, a country where Indian cricket often faces its biggest challenges. They left the Indian team a player short while keeping the series in the balance, something the legendary Sunil Gavaskar did not appreciate.
“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I will not be available for selection for India. What it does is that, in the same way when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the third Test in the 2014 series -15, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar told broadcasters after Ashwin's announcement.
However, when Kumble stepped away after the third Test in Delhi, India led the four-match rubber 1-0 and eventually won the series 2-0 at home.
While Kumble and Dhoni are former India captains, Ashwin never managed the national team but his retirement leaves a huge void in the spin bowling department. The onus now falls on Ravindra Jadeja, who is already 36, and the other younger spinners to carry the team.
Kumble (619) and Ashwin (537) are India's top two wicket-takers, and like Dhoni, who led the country to two World Cup victories, a Champions Trophy title and its first-ever climb to the top of the Test rankings, left an indelible legacy.
Ashwin, 38, announced his decision at the press meet at the Gabba that took place after the third Test between India and Australia ended in a draw.
Ashwin has averaged his wickets at 24 in 106 Test matches. He is also seventh on the overall list of wicket-takers.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Topics mentioned in this article