Nathan Lyon, a fierce competitor and peer of Ravichandran Ashwin, recently paid a heartfelt tribute to the Indian spin maestro upon his retirement. However, this praise also hinted at the real reason behind Ashwin's decision to step away during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The pink-ball day-night Test in Adelaide last week marked Ashwin's final game for India, reminiscent of MS Dhoni's retirement moment during the 2014-15 tour in Australia.

Interestingly, that Adelaide match will be remembered as Ashwin's last outing for the national team. If it were up to him, he might have opted out of it. This choice is a bit unexpected, especially since India hasn't yet played a Test in Sydney, a venue known for being spinner-friendly. The team could have fielded two spinners, with Ashwin being one of them, but it seems the seasoned strategist had different ideas. As Lyon expressed his admiration for Ashwin, he made a compelling observation that might have influenced Ashwin's decision even before the series kicked off.

I’ve got nothing but respect for Ash. The way he’s carried himself both on and off the field for so many years is impressive, and his skills are top-notch. We might not see eye to eye on everything, but that’s totally fine. Having discussions with a bowler like Ashwin is just awesome. He has so many variations and tactics, and it’s cool to get into his mindset. We’re pretty different, so our chat this morning was fantastic, and I’m looking forward to more conversations like that throughout the series and beyond, Lyon shared with Australian broadcasters during the rain delay on Day 5 of the Gabba Test.

Lyon also commented on the interesting situation with India fielding three different spinners in Perth, Adelaide, and now Brisbane. "It’s a head-scratcher for me, especially with someone like Ashwin sitting on the bench with over 530 Test wickets. I’m walking to the ground thinking, 'What’s going on here?' He’s definitely one of the best spin bowlers in history. It’s surprising, to say the least. The depth of talent in the Indian squad is impressive. With Ashwin’s 536 wickets and Jadeja’s 319, it’s pretty wild to see such quality players not even playing. It’s a nice problem to have."

R Ashwin's mid-career retirement surprised many.

Lyon really nailed it with his comments. There's no denying Ashwin's talent as a spinner, but it seems like he doesn't see himself in India's future plans, which led to his decision to step away. India's next Test series is in July when they head to England for five matches. The last time Ashwin played a Test in England was during the 2021 WTC final against New Zealand in Southampton, and he didn't even make the Playing XI in any of the five Tests that tour.

When you look at his stats in SENA countries (72 wickets from 26 Tests), they don't compare to his home performance (383 wickets in 65 matches). So, with time running out, Ashwin decided it was best to bow out on his own terms. His ongoing knee issues only reinforced his choice to retire, something he had been thinking about since late 2021.

Plus, India is currently going through a transition phase, gearing up for the next World Test Championship cycle, which will likely see a lot of young talent stepping up. With Washington Sundar showing his skills in the recent home series against New Zealand, he’s expected to take over Ashwin's role. India is definitely hoping he can fill those big shoes.

But Lyon wasn’t finished. Right after Ashwin announced his retirement, he took a moment to congratulate him on an incredible career.

Ash, as someone who also bowls off-spin, I just want to say thanks. You've been an amazing player for both India and cricket globally. It's been a joy to watch you play, go up against you, and compete with you. Wishing you all the best moving forward. Huge congrats on a fantastic career!

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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