Fans were stunned when Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The iconic off-spinner disclosed his decision following the third Test, which ended in a draw at The Gabba, Brisbane. Ashwin played just one match in the series, which India ultimately lost 3-1. While his announcement caught many off guard, one fan had surprisingly predicted it even before the Indian team departed for Australia.
In November, someone took to X (formerly Twitter) and asked users to share their predictions for the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Responding to the post, a fan wrote, “Ashwin announcing retirement in mid-series.” After Ashwin officially retired, the prediction gained traction, leaving many astonished at the fan’s foresight.
Ashwin announcing retirement in mid series https://t.co/o547O2RHsU
— @imgsk24 (@imgsk24) November 21, 2024
One user jokingly asked if “Ashwin Anna had conveyed his decision” to the fan ahead of the series. Another remarked, “Really appreciate your prediction bhai.”* The fan, however, clarified that it was a straightforward and “logical prediction.” He explained, “If you follow your players from childhood, you know them well.”
The fan also observed that Ashwin had fallen behind Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar as India’s fourth-choice spinner in overseas conditions. Looking ahead, Kuldeep and Sundar are likely to spearhead the spin attack in upcoming home matches.
Ravichandran Ashwin was a cornerstone of India’s Test team for over a decade, renowned for his dominance on home pitches. He earned the Player of the Match title 11 times, sharing this distinction with Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan.
Ashwin retires as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Tests, with 537 dismissals, including 37 five-wicket hauls and 25 four-wicket hauls, at an average of 24. Globally, he ranks seventh on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers.
Though primarily a bowler, Ashwin’s batting accomplishments in Test cricket are notable. He scored six centuries and amassed 3,503 runs. Across ODIs and T20Is, Ashwin claimed a combined total of 228 wickets, further cementing his legacy as a cricketing great.
