India's spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has officially announced his retirement from international cricket following the conclusion of the third Test match against Australia at Gabba, Brisbane. Shortly after the match ended in a draw, Ashwin entered the press conference room to formally say farewell to his international career. Numerous tributes have emerged for the off-spinner, who concluded his career with an impressive tally of 765 wickets for India across all formats.

In a heartfelt tribute, Ashwin's wife, Prithi Narayanan, shared her emotions regarding her husband's retirement. She reflected on his cricketing journey and expressed her feelings upon hearing the news of his decision to retire at the age of 38.

"The past two days have been somewhat surreal for me. I have been contemplating how to express my thoughts. Should I frame this as a tribute to my all-time favourite cricketer? Perhaps I should approach it from the perspective of a partner? Or maybe it should resemble a love letter from an adoring fan? I suppose it encompasses elements of all these aspects," she conveyed on Instagram.

"As I watched Ashwin's press conference, I was reminded of both the significant and subtle moments we have shared over the last 13 to 14 years. The major victories, the Man of the Series awards, the quiet moments in our room following intense matches, the prolonged sound of the shower on certain evenings after play, the scratch of a pencil on paper as he jotted down his thoughts, the continuous playback of footage as he devised game strategies, the tranquillity of his meditative breathing before each match, and the specific songs that play on repeat while he relaxes," she added.

Ashwin concluded his international cricket career as India's second-highest wicket-taker, trailing only Anil Kumble in the all-time rankings. 

The distinguished off-spinner played a significant role in India's triumphs at the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Prithi Narayanan reflected on the emotional journey, stating, "The moments we celebrated in joy—following the Champions Trophy final, the victory at the MCG, the draw in Sydney, the win at The Gabba, and our resurgence in T20s—the moments of silence we shared, and the times our hearts were shattered."

'Been an absolute pleasure'

Ashwin's spouse expressed that it has been an "absolute pleasure" to witness the cricketer excel in his profession and emerge as a significant match-winner for India. Ashwin holds the record for the highest number of Player of the Series awards in men's Test cricket, totalling 11.

"Dear Ashwin, from the early days of not knowing how to pack a kit bag to following you to stadiums around the globe, cheering for you, observing your journey, and learning from you, it has been an immense joy. The world you have introduced me to has allowed me to appreciate a sport I cherish from a close perspective. It has also revealed the dedication, effort, and discipline required to maintain one's position. At times, even that may not suffice," she remarked.

"I recall our discussions about the necessity for you, R Ashwin, to undertake all these efforts and more to remain relevant in the competitive landscape. Awards, impressive statistics, Player of the Match honours, accolades, and records lose significance if one does not continually refine their skills and commit to hard work. Occasionally, it feels like nothing is sufficient. As you conclude your remarkable international career, I want to reassure you that everything will be alright. It is all going to be good," she continued.

Although Ashwin may have retired from international cricket, he will still participate in club cricket. In his retirement announcement, he made it clear that he still possesses "enough punch," but his tenure as an international cricketer for India has come to an end.

"It is time to release the weight of being you. Embrace life on your own terms, allow for those extra indulgences, prioritize family time, take moments to do absolutely nothing, share memes throughout the day, develop a new bowling technique, and entertain our children. Just embrace it all," Ashwin's wife concluded.

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