R Ashwin Did Not Want Grand Retirement Ceremony: Just days after his retirement from international cricket, former Indian Cricket Team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on massive cricketer retirement ceremonies, saying that neither he nor any other cricketer should receive one.
After over a decade of being India’s premier all-format spin bowler, Ashwin anna announced his retirement from the national team following the third match of the ongoing five-match Australia vs India Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
In 106 Test matches for India, the 38-year-old took 537 wickets, making him the second-highest Indian and seventh-highest overall wicket-taker in the format. In his entire international career, he has 765 wickets in 287 matches across all formats.
After such a legendary career for the Indian Cricket Team, many fans would assume that he would receive a grand retirement. However, Ashwin unexpectedly called it a day after the third Test match in Brisbane. He didn’t even finish the series. After the game ended in a draw, he appeared in the post-match press conference, announced his retirement, thanked his team, fans, and opponents, did not take any questions, and just walked away.
R Ashwin Did Not Want Grand Retirement Ceremony
But with fans clamouring for a big ceremony in celebration of his illustrious career, the veteran spinner has very different thoughts. In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ashwin discussed the culture of giving celebrities and cricketers massive send-offs. But he reckoned that he, or any other cricketer for that matter, should not receive such farewells.
“As far as I am concerned, grand farewells are wrong. I don’t think you should give grand farewell ceremonies to anyone. Especially, I firmly believe that you shouldn’t give me a grand farewell. I don’t want anyone shedding a drop of tear for me. I think grand send-offs are part of a super celebrity culture,” he said.
He then went on to elaborate on his statement, mentioning how rather than throwing grand farewells, people should get inspired by their achievements, saying,
“I understand we run behind someone for the love we have for them. But I feel that people should get inspired by one’s achievements, the legacy that one leaves behind, the way one left the game, and the way one has spoken about the game. But farewells are wrong, I think.“
Ashwin then went on to say that he has no regrets about announcing his retirement, saying,
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“I quit this part of my life. It was a full stop to that part of my life. I can talk cricket, I do YouTube, and I love coaching. I can keep myself happy around cricket. I will stay connected with cricket. I don’t have any regrets; I am not angry at anyone. I didn’t cry even one bit. No one else is responsible for my retirement. If there’s someone, I am not aware of it.“
While Ravichandran Ashwin did retire from international cricket, he said in his farewell address that he still has a lot of cricket left in him and will be continuing with club cricket, like playing for the Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2025.
As for the Indian Cricket team, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stands at 1-1 after three matches. The fourth and fifth India vs Australia Tests, to be played in Melbourne and Sydney, respectively, are not only crucial for the result of this series but also to determine the finalists for the World Test Championship final 2025 as well.
Check Out: R Ashwin Did Not Want Grand Retirement Ceremony
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