The Indian team experienced a poignant evening in Brisbane as Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket shortly after the conclusion of the third Test match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, which ended in a draw. While the announcement came as a surprise, it was reported that Ashwin had been considering this decision for an extended period due to his ongoing battle with knee injuries. Nevertheless, the news left his teammates in a state of shock.

On Wednesday, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a video on social media capturing the moments at the Gabba following Ashwin's retirement. The footage commenced with the cricketing icon concluding his press conference, where he was seated alongside captain Rohit Sharma to deliver the brief announcement. He refrained from taking any questions from the media and departed promptly, leaving a palpable silence in the room.

Subsequently, Ashwin met with his Australian counterparts, Nathan Lyon and captain Pat Cummins, who presented him with a signed Australian jersey. He then made his way past the media to the Indian dressing room, where he was met with heartfelt embraces from Rishabh Pant, who was visibly distraught, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who expressed that he was still grappling with the news. The video also depicted a forlorn Shubman Gill observing the events from a distance.

Ashwin returns home

The 38-year-old expressed his sentiments in a heartfelt speech in the dressing room, confirming his return to Chennai on Thursday, which means he will not participate in the remainder of the series. Nevertheless, he reassured his teammates that he would be following the outcomes of the last two matches closely.

"I will be boarding a flight back home. However, I will be watching intently to see how you all perform in Melbourne. I eagerly anticipate each of your contributions," he stated.

"While my career as an international cricketer may be concluding, my passion for cricket will endure indefinitely. Wishing you all the best. Should you require any assistance, I am merely a phone call away," Ashwin remarked.

With a total of 765 international wickets to his name, Ashwin ranks as the second-highest wicket-taker from India, following Anil Kumble. He has achieved 537 wickets at an average of 24 across 106 Test matches, placing him seventh on the overall list of wicket-takers.

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