Former Australian cricketers Brett Lee and Brad Haddin shared their insights regarding Ravichandran Ashwin's unexpected retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, following the Brisbane Test. Ashwin's decision surprised many, as few anticipated he would retire from international cricket in the midst of a series that was tied at 1-1, with two matches remaining.

The experienced spinner did not participate in the playing elevens for the Perth and Brisbane Tests, and when he had the opportunity to play in Adelaide, the pitch offered little assistance for spin bowling. He concluded his illustrious career with one wicket in his final Test, with Mitchell Marsh being his last victim in international cricket.

The former Australian players engaged in speculation regarding Ashwin's retirement. Lee proposed that the Indian management may have informed the spinner that he would not be considered for the remaining two Tests, prompting Ashwin to make the decision to retire.

“I believe the last time a spinner retired during a series in Australia was Graeme Swann. He might have been advised that he wouldn’t play any further part in this series, and understandably, he chose to exit on his own terms,” Lee remarked on Fox Cricket.

Ashwin has been a cornerstone of India's success in Test cricket over the past decade. He concluded his Test career with 537 wickets from 106 matches, ranking second among Indian bowlers, only behind Anil Kumble's 619. The recent series against New Zealand at home marked one of the low points in Ashwin's career, as he managed only nine wickets across three matches, two of which were played on pitches designed to favor spin in Pune and Mumbai.

‘Ashwin may have been a bit frustrated…’: Haddin

Haddin, the former Australian wicketkeeper, expressed high regard for Ashwin, while also suggesting that the spinner might provide further insights regarding his retirement decision in the near future.

"More details will emerge when Ashwin has the chance to share his thoughts; interpreting his comments, it seems he may have experienced some frustration with the variations in spinning options utilized during the first three Test matches. In my view, he is a dedicated student of the game, consistently seeking improvement... he has certainly earned that right," Haddin remarked to Fox Cricket following the conclusion of the Test match.

Read Also: Rohit accidentally revealed Rahane and Pujara's retirements, surprising reporters after the Ashwin news. He joked, "You'll get me killed..."

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