‘Eventually got to me…’: R Ashwin’s candid admission on his sudden Test retirement

For those unversed, R Ashwin- only the second Indian bowler to have taken over 500 Test wickets after Anil Kumble- surprised his whole fanbase as he announced his retirement from Test cricket after the third Test in Brisbane.

“I was pretty old, I must admit. But going on tours, and having to just sit out (a) lot more, eventually got to me,” Ashwin told former India captain and coach Rahul Dravid in a chat on his YouTube channel.

“I mean, not in terms of not wanting to contribute to the team, but you’re thinking if I would rather be at home, spending time with children. They are also growing up, and what am I actually doing? So I just felt like okay… In my head, I always decided that I would retire at 34-35. But just the fact that I could not play a lot in between…” he added.

R Ashwin made his Test debut in November 2011, and in total, he bowled in 200 innings of 106 Test matches- where he secured 537 wickets to his name. He took 25 four-wicket hauls and 37 fifers, while averaging at 24.00 and with an economy of 2.83.