Veteran Team India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja revealed that he barely got to know five minutes before Ravichandran Ashwin announced his international retirement following the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane. Jadeja observed that Ashwin had barely hinted of his big decision the entire day.
Ashwin will go down as India's most successful off-spinner as and their second-highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 and a total of 765 international scalps. The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer final match for India was the one in Adelaide which the tourists lost by ten wickets. He is also the most prolific off-spinner produced by India.
Speaking in a video shared by Mid-day, the Saurashtra all-rounder said:
"Ashwin ka last moment pe pata chala. Jab woh aaye they press conference karne, uske 5 minute pehle hee pata chala, aisa laga, kisi ne bataaya ki aisa hone waala hai. Pure din hum saath mein baithe they, aisa kuch usne hint bhi nahin diya. Toh last moment pe hee pata chala, ab Ashwin ko toh sab jaante hain uska dimaag kaisa hai."
(I got to know about Ashwin's retirement in the very last moment. When he came for that press conference, I came to know just five minutes ago, someone told it was going to happen. We sat beside one another the whole day but he didn't hint at anything.)
Ravichandran Ashwin keen to prolong his IPL career
With the Tamil Nadu-born cricketer announcing his international retirement, Ashwin said he is keen to continue playing in the IPL and is excited to play for the Chennai Super Kings next year. The veteran said, as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo:
"I think that part for me is still burning bright. I am going to play for CSK and don't be surprised if I aspire to play for as long as I can. I don't think Ashwin the cricketer is done, I think only Ashwin the Indian cricketer called time. That's it."
The auction saw Ashwin go to the Super Kings, fetching â‚ą9.75 crore.
