Ravichandran Ashwin's choice to step away from international cricket caught everyone off guard, but for those who’ve been keeping an eye on his journey over the past few years, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. At 38, he was still India’s top spinner in Tests, but the team's management seemed to lose faith in his ability to perform overseas, among other reasons, which ultimately led him to this decision. Rohit Sharma mentioned in a press conference that he knew about Ashwin's plans as soon as he arrived in Perth, and the fact that he had to persuade Ashwin to play in the Adelaide Test shows that the seasoned bowler was ready to move on.

Typically, players give a heads-up about such big decisions to the higher-ups, but Ashwin chose to keep it under wraps. He’s been a key player in India’s achievements, so it’s usually expected that someone with his impact would inform the management. However, Ashwin only shared his thoughts with the captain, leaving even Virat Kohli, under whom he found much of his success, out of the loop, as indicated by Kohli's tribute.

Even the BCCI selection panel was caught off guard, reinforcing the idea that Ashwin made the decision to retire on his own. After India faced a 0-3 defeat against New Zealand at home, various reports surfaced, but the one that grabbed the most attention was the possibility that this could be the last time Rohit, Kohli, Ashwin, and Jadeja play a Test together on home soil. With Ashwin stepping away from the game, a source within the board has claimed that the BCCI had no influence on his retirement decision.

"There was no push from the selection committee. Ashwin is a cricketing legend in India, and he has every right to make his own choices," a senior BCCI official shared with PTI, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Gambhir choosing Washington over Ashwin was just a matter of time.

The report shares some intriguing insights into how the New Zealand series influenced Ashwin's choices. After a pretty underwhelming performance against the Kiwis, where he managed to take nine wickets over three Tests, Ashwin realized it was time for a change. He wasn't happy with how he played, especially since Washington Sundar took 12 wickets, and he started doing the math in his head.

He wasn't even interested in going to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ashwin told the team management straight up that if he wasn't going to play and just sit on the bench, he wouldn't bother flying all the way there. To make matters worse, India tried out three different spinners over the three Tests. They started with Washington, then brought in Ashwin for the Adelaide match, but by the time they got to Brisbane, Ravindra Jadeja had taken over, and that Test ended in a draw.

According to a PTI report, Ashwin realized that Sundar would be taking his spot in the Playing XI for the first Test in Perth, a choice made by head coach Gautam Gambhir. This gave him a clear idea of what to expect. The management believed that if India went with two spinners in Sydney, it would be Sundar and Jadeja. This all played a part in Ashwin's decision-making process.

And honestly, it makes sense. The Indian team is in a phase of transition. With the next World Test Championship cycle kicking off with India's tour of England in July next year, Ashwin would be 40 by the time the third WTC final rolls around in 2027. Given his long-standing commitment to Indian cricket, Ashwin did what was best for the team and its future, as he always does.

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!