Ravichandran Ashwin, the all-rounder from India, arrived in Chennai on Friday morning, just a day after surprising everyone with his retirement from international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, had mentioned in a press conference in Brisbane on Thursday that Ashwin would be heading home on Friday instead of joining the team for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

At the Madras International Meenambakkam Airport in Chennai, Ashwin was seen navigating through tight security as he exited the airport. Before getting into his car, he asked the media to give him some space. He didn’t take any questions, sticking to his earlier approach during his retirement announcement, and expressed gratitude for everyone’s understanding and respect for his feelings.

Just a little while later, he got a hero's welcome at his home in Chennai. With 675 wickets under his belt, making him India's second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, he was greeted with traditional music, garlands, and lots of warm hugs from his family.

His dad was the first to wrap him in a big hug and shower him with kisses on the cheeks, while his mom couldn't hold back her tears as she embraced him tightly.

As the legendary cricketer walked into his home with his wife and daughters, neighbors and close friends lined up for autographs and hugs.

Ashwin's talk in the locker room.

Ashwin's sudden decision to retire right away caught everyone off guard, especially with the Border-Gavaskar Trophy heading into its last two Tests. It’s a bummer to see one of the game's greats stepping away just as things are heating up for the Boxing Day match in Melbourne.

"I’m not really sure how to handle this. Honestly, it’s way easier to talk about it in a team huddle. Even if I’m not showing it, this is a really emotional moment for me," Ashwin shared in a video released by BCCI.

"It feels like… back in 2011-12 when I first toured here, I watched everyone move on. I saw Rahul (Dravid) bhai leave, Sachin (Tendulkar) paaji leave...

"But trust me, everyone has their time, and today was mine to step away."

Ashwin reflected on the last four to five years of international cricket, saying that’s when he built some truly special relationships, having been part of the Indian team since November 2011.

I've really loved my time here, made some awesome friendships over the past four to five years, and it's tough to say goodbye to my teammates who have been by my side.

Each year, I've come to appreciate our relationships and their skills even more.

Even though I'm moving on, the "cricket fan" in me will always stay connected.

I've had a blast, and while I'm heading home soon, I'll definitely be keeping an eye on how you all perform in Melbourne.

The cricketer inside me, the Indian and international player, may have wrapped up his career, but my passion for cricket will always be alive. I’ll be cheering for all of you and wishing you the best in every match, he mentioned.

He reassured his teammates from India that he’s always available for them.

“If you ever need anything, just give me a call. I really appreciate everything, thanks Rohit, thanks Virat, thanks Gauti Bhai. I’m feeling really happy today,” Ashwin shared.

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