Ravichandran Ashwin has just announced his retirement from international cricket after an impressive 14-year run, and he’ll definitely be remembered for more than just his bowling skills—his cricketing intellect is top-notch too. With 106 Test matches under his belt and a 2011 ODI World Cup win to his name, Ashwin’s retirement signals a significant shift in Indian cricket. He leaves behind a legacy of 537 Test wickets, along with solid performances in limited-overs formats, boasting 156 wickets in 116 ODIs and 72 in 65 T20Is.

Even though he’s stepping away from the international scene, Ashwin’s cricketing journey isn’t over yet. He’ll still be active in club cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he’s been a regular since 2009. Recently, he rejoined the Chennai Super Kings after a decade away. Throughout his 212 IPL matches, Ashwin has claimed 180 wickets, proving his worth in the fast-paced format of the game.

Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif recently shared a great story that highlights Ashwin’s tactical genius amid the many tributes coming in for the off-spinner. Kaif, who spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the Delhi Capitals alongside Ashwin, noted how Ashwin’s deep grasp of the game really stood out.

“I worked with Ashwin in the IPL for two seasons at Delhi Capitals,” Kaif said. “In 2020, when we made it to the finals, Ashwin was a key player. He opened the bowling and took down big names like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Kieron Pollard. Then in 2021, he got selected for the T20 World Cup, which took place right after the IPL, and both events were in Dubai.”

However, it was one specific moment during their time together that really highlighted Ashwin’s keen eye for detail and his exceptional cricketing insight.

Ashwin's understanding

Kaif remembered a time when Ashwin wouldn’t bowl to his teammate Steve Smith during practice, which surprised a lot of people.

“Steve was part of our team, and one day he came to the nets to practice batting. I asked Ashwin to bowl to him, but he refused. That’s when I realized how deeply he understands the game, and I think we should call him ‘in-depth’ Ashwin,” Kaif said, grinning.

Kaif shared, “Ashwin mentioned, ‘I won’t bowl to Smith because he’s got a camera on his helmet. He’ll record us and break it down for the World Cup.’ I didn’t spot the camera on Smith’s helmet, but Ashwin did. He was all for supporting Smith as a teammate, just not when it came to the World Cup.”

This moment really highlighted Ashwin's sharp game sense. While others might have missed the camera on Smith’s helmet, Ashwin recognized it as a possible advantage for his rival’s prep for the T20 World Cup.

Even though he had a solid performance, taking six wickets in three games, India didn’t make it to the semi-finals in that tournament, which was a tough way to wrap up Virat Kohli’s captaincy in the shortest format.

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