Mumbai: For Ravichandran Ashwin, the sounds echoing through the corridors of the Gabba in Brisbane must have felt more intense than ever. This was his final moment as an international cricketer.

A camera trailed Ashwin as he made his way to the press conference room to share his retirement news on Wednesday, then followed him back to the Indian team’s dining area, capturing the heavy atmosphere that had nothing to do with the gloomy skies that cut short India’s third Test against Australia.

The vibe was low-key, honoring the conclusion of an incredible cricket journey.

In his 106 Tests, the 38-year-old from Chennai bagged an impressive 537 wickets, making him the seventh most successful bowler in Test history and one of only nine bowlers to join the exclusive 500-plus wicket club.

As he took his last walk through the Brisbane Cricket Stadium, Ashwin was greeted with warm handshakes from everyone he encountered. Among them was Matthew Hayden, along with umpires Chris Gaffney and Richard Illingworth, who officiated Ashwin's final match for India. Ranjan Madugalle, the former Sri Lankan player and ICC match referee, also stopped to congratulate him.

Then, his Aussie buddy and fellow spinner Nathan Lyon, along with captain Pat Cummins, came over to present Ashwin with a team shirt signed by all the Australian players.

There were plenty of hugs and warm smiles all around, and Ashwin, standing tall at 6-foot-2, was in high spirits. He especially felt the love when he entered the team dining room to a round of applause from the players who had just been his teammates moments before.

“I can’t believe what just happened,” young Yashasvi Jaiswal told Ashwin, right before the spinner took the spotlight.

“I’m not sure how to handle this; it’s way easier in a team huddle,” he admitted to the Indian squad. “This is such an emotional moment for me.”

Ashwin’s first overseas Test was the Boxing Day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground back in 2011. He reminisced about that tour, which coincided with a time of transition for India, much like the current situation.

I noticed a lot of players move on, like when Rahul bhai and Sachin paaji stepped away, he mentioned.

“Everyone has their moment. Today was definitely mine. But I’ve really loved every bit of it.

“I’ve formed some amazing bonds and friendships over the past four to five years. I’m parting ways with teammates I’ve been with for a long time. With each year that goes by, I appreciate their friendship and their skills even more.”

Ashwin announced that he’s stepping away from the team and heading home, but he reassured his former teammates that he’ll still be their biggest fan. “My time as an Indian international cricketer might be over, but my love for cricket will never fade. I’ll be cheering for all of you.”

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause when Ashwin was invited to cut a cake celebrating the career of a player who took immense pride in his batting and earned great respect as a bowler. A 2011 World Cup champion, he showed incredible determination, pushing through injuries to help his team secure a memorable draw in the Sydney Test in 2021.

As he wrapped up his short media address, he added: “I won’t be taking any questions. This is a really emotional moment for me, and I don’t think I can answer anything properly right now.

“I may be stepping back as a player, but I’ll definitely stay connected to the game that has given me so much.”

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