“The Timing Was A Bit Of A Surprise”: Pat Cummins After Ashwin’s Retirement Declaration From International Cricket

After the conclusion of the Brisbane Test against India on Wednesday, Australian skipper Pat Cummins reacted to Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement announcement, calling it “a bit of a surprise.”

India’s legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin revealed his decision to retire from international cricket shortly after the Brisbane Test ended in a draw.

“The timing was a bit of a surprise. He’s been a fantastic player all around the world. There aren’t too many finger spinners that have that kind of longevity. He’ll go down as one of the all-time greats. He was always a fantastic competitor, we had a lot of battles against him over the years here in Australia as well over in India. Just a massive respect from our change room to the career that he’s had,” Pat Cummins said during the post-match press conference.

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Earlier, Ashwin had joined India’s captain Rohit Sharma at the post-match press conference to officially announce his retirement. Speculation about the decision began swirling when Ashwin appeared emotional on the field and was hugged by Virat Kohli.

Ashwin’s illustrious career includes 106 Test matches in which he claimed a staggering 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls, and scored 3,503 runs. He stands as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test history and the second-highest for India, behind Anil Kumble (619). Ashwin also boasts the second-most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, following Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan (67).

The off-spinner was a pivotal figure in India’s dominance in Test cricket, particularly during their ascent to the top between 2014 and 2019. His contributions extended beyond Test cricket, as he also excelled in limited-overs formats.

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In 181 white-ball matches, Ashwin took 228 wickets. This includes 116 ODIs, where he claimed 156 wickets with best figures of 4/25, and 65 T20Is, in which he secured 72 wickets with best figures of 4/8. Across formats, he amassed 765 international wickets, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker, only behind Kumble (953).

Ashwin’s achievements include being part of India’s 2011 World Cup-winning squad and the victorious 2013 Champions Trophy team.

With a legacy that spans over a decade, Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of a golden era in Indian cricket, inspiring generations to come.

Also Read: R. Ashwin Bids Farewell: Announces Shocking Retirement From International Cricket | WATCH