Weave a web around confused batsmen, talk cricket and do things Youtube R. Ashwin naturally makes videos on various topics. He can do many things at once, but if there’s one attribute that consumes him intensely, it’s his passion for Willow games.
To see Ashwin in the nets before or during a match is to observe a man completely immersed in the sport. Ashwin exchanged views with Nathan Lyon at the Gabba on Wednesday morning. When the third Test ended on a rainy night, Ashwin walked away with a host of personal records while also becoming the star of many victories in India’s storied career.
This retirement was as sudden as MS Dhoni’s in 2014 when he appeared in front of an unsuspecting media in Melbourne. A BCCI press release revealed the former India captain’s Test exit and thankfully Ashwin spoke to cricket writers.
Read: Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket
Ashwin has 537 wickets (currently seventh in the all-time rankings), 37 five-wicket hauls and 3503 six centuries, marking Ashwin’s great performance in Tests. Although his initial entry into the spotlight was spent in the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has enjoyed the format. In ODIs, Ashwin took 156 wickets and made a belated comeback, such was his competitive zeal.
During his formative years, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner had to face inevitable comparisons. This is a dilemma that all members of Indian Slow Art must face. Be it the famous spin quartet or his predecessors – Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, Ashwin has dealt with multiple shades and huge boots.
India chief deputy R Ashwin on Wednesday surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect during the Test series against Australia. |Photo credit: PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar
India chief deputy R Ashwin on Wednesday surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement with immediate effect during the Test series against Australia. |Photo credit: PTI Photo/R Senthil Kumar
He bides his time, behaves consistently, moves cleanly, is never averse to speaking his mind, and more importantly keeps learning. At home, he is an indispensable champion and a big reason why India has been viewed as a backyard fortress for the past decade and a half. Both times when his performances have dipped slightly, whether it was against England in 2012 or against New Zealand this year, India lost.
Also read: Kohli on Ashwin retirement: Your skills and contribution to winning Indian cricket are second to none
Like the late Shane Warne, Ashwin was also keen on popularizing the sport of spin. He was always well-spoken and would hint at the mysterious deliveries he was working on and highlight specific areas he was fine-tuning in training. He follows the game closely and knows the latest stars, their strengths and weaknesses. He was a man who used his engineering background to its full potential, and precision was always important to him.
Ashwin, 38, is fighting against time and has taken the decision to leave on his own terms. But I didn’t see him in the end. He will be representing the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL, which is a bit of a homecoming. As Rohit Sharma said with a cheeky laugh, Ashwin will be part of the media bandwagon at some point, perhaps as a commentator. He now leaves as one of India’s greatest cricketers.
