Ravichandran Ashwin, who concluded his international cricket career in December 2024, expressed his views on the status of Hindi as a "national language." The distinguished off-spinner, with a record of 537 Test wickets, participated in a graduation ceremony at a private engineering institution in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, where he stated that Hindi should be regarded as an "official language" rather than a "national language."

During his address, Ashwin first inquired how many attendees were proficient in English. He subsequently posed the same question regarding Tamil and Hindi.

"Are there any English speakers present? Please respond with a cheer. What about Tamil?" Upon mentioning Tamil, the audience erupted in applause.

He then asked, "And Hindi?" Noticing minimal enthusiasm from the crowd, Ashwin remarked, "I feel compelled to clarify: Hindi is an official language, not a national language."

It is essential to note that the Constitution of India designates Hindi as an "official language." The utilization of this language in Tamil Nadu has consistently been a contentious issue.

The position of captaincy was never sought after

Ravichandran Ashwin stated during the event that he never actively sought the captaincy position, despite the encouragement from fans and analysts suggesting he should assume the role.

"When someone asserts that I am incapable, it motivates me to prove them wrong; conversely, if they claim I am capable, my interest wanes," Ashwin remarked.

Following the conclusion of the Gabba Test between India and Australia, Ashwin announced his retirement. He concluded his career as India's second-highest wicket-taker across all formats, trailing only Anil Kumble.

In his retirement announcement, Ashwin said, "Today marks my final day as an Indian cricketer at the international level across all formats. While I believe I still possess some competitive spirit, I wish to channel that into club-level cricket."

Ashwin participated only in the Adelaide Test against Australia, having not been included in the playing XI for the first match in Perth or the third match in Brisbane.

The off-spinner will continue to represent Tamil Nadu and the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

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