R Ashwin Was Not Willing To Tour Australia For BGT Unless Guaranteed A Spot In India’s Playing XI: Report – News18

Last Updated:December 19, 2024, 08:40 IST

38-year-old Ashwin, who last played a Test match for India in Adelaide from December 6-8, 2024, announced his decision to quit international cricket with immediate effect on Wednesday, December 18.

Star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who is the leading wicket-taker for India in Test matches against Australia and also tops the list of bowlers with the most wickets in the World Test Championship (WTC), announced his decision to retire from international cricket on Wednesday. The 38-year-old cricketer from Chennai, who played in the second Test against the Baggy Greens, attended India’s post-match press conference on Wednesday in Brisbane and announced his decision. Ashwin’s decision to quit international cricket came as a surprise for many fans and experts of the game.

But now, according to a report in the news agency PTI, Ashwin was not willing to tour Australia for the ongoing five-match Test series between India and Australia. The report states that Ashwin, who finished his career with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, didn’t want to tour Australia unless guaranteed a spot in the playing XI, and he made his shock retirement decision after being snubbed by India’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, for two of the three matches played so far.

“It is understood that retirement had been on Ashwin’s mind following India’s shocking 0-3 home series loss to New Zealand. The legendary off-spinner had conveyed to the team management that he would not travel to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy unless guaranteed a spot in the playing XI,” the report read.

“India’s decision to play Washington Sundar ahead of Ashwin in the Perth Test seemed to be the tipping point. Although Ashwin returned for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide at Rohit Sharma’s insistence, Ravindra Jadeja was preferred for the subsequent Brisbane Test. As Rohit stated after the drawn third Test in Gabba, the squad’s composition for the final matches in Melbourne and Sydney remained uncertain.”

“The decision to omit Ashwin for Washington Sundar in Perth appeared to have been taken in Rohit’s absence, with coach Gautam Gambhir reportedly having a significant say. By the time Rohit linked up with the team, he had to persuade Ashwin to play in Adelaide.”

While speaking to reporters in Brisbane on Wednesday, Indian captain Rohit Sharma had hinted that Ashwin was ready to retire after he didn’t get a chance to play in the series opener, which India won by 295 runs in Perth last month. But he somehow convinced Ashwin to play in the pink-ball Test, which was staged at the Adelaide Oval from December 6 to 8.

“When I arrived in Perth, this was a chat we had, and I somehow convinced him to stay for that pink-ball Test match. Then after that, it just happened,” Rohit said.

“He (Ashwin) felt that if I am not needed right now in the series, I am better off saying goodbye to the game,” he added.