5 times a player announced retirement in the middle of a Test series ft. R Ashwin

Over the years, many cricketers have been lucky to bid farewell to the game on their personal terms. While a few of them end their career due to bad form, others often take decisions in the team's favor or don't have the drive to battle it out at the highest level.

However, very few of them take a harsh decision to announce their retirement in the middle of the series. Some often have preconceived notions about their regressing form and not finding a place in the side.

With Ravichandran Ashwin dropping a bombshell retirement news on Wednesday (December 18), let's check out some more cricketers who retired from the sport in the middle of the series.

---

#1 MS Dhoni

The legendary keeper-batter MS Dhoni retired with immediate effect in December 2014 after the conclusion of the third Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2014-15 Test in Melbourne. Notably, he remained unbeaten on 24, as India salvaged a draw. However, the visitors had already lost the series after losing the first two games of the four-match series.

The fitness issues and the strain of playing across all formats were the reasons for Dhoni ending his Test career early. In place of him, Virat Kohli led the Indian team in the Sydney Test, which ended as a draw.

In 90 Tests, MS Dhoni garnered 4,876 runs and effected a total of 294 dismissals (256 catches and 38 stumpings).

---

#2 Graeme Swann

England off-spinner Graeme Swann called time on his international career during the 2013-14 Ashes series. It came after the third Test in Perth, which saw England losing three consecutive games and failing to retain the trophy. Swann could pick up only seven wickets in these games at an average of 80.

During his retirement speech, Swann revealed that he isn't coping well enough to playing the longest format. Moreover, after he couldn't help the side to gain success on the tour, he thought it's time to give chances to youngsters and rebuild the squad.

Swann finished his Test career with 255 wickets at 29.96 from his 60 appearances.

---

#3 Ravichandran Ashwin

One of the finest spinners to grace the cricket field, Ravichandran Ashwin announced a shocking development to the cricket fraternity on Wednesday. He chose to retire from the sport after the conclusion of the third BGT 2024-25 Test in Gabba.

Ashwin only had a solitary appearance in the series in Adelaide, where he returned with figures of 1/53 and contributed 29 runs with the bat. He was dropped from the third Test in favor of Ravindra Jadeja, who scored 77 in the first innings. As a result, Ashwin was not expected to be called back in the XI for the remaining two games.

In 106 Tests, Ravichandran Ashwin grabbed 537 wickets with 37 five-wicket and eight 10-wicket hauls. He is seventh on the overall list of highest Test wicket-takers and second among Indians after Anil Kumble (619).

---

#4 Mitchell Johnson

Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson announced his retirement from Test cricket on November 17, 2015. It all happened before the final day's play of the second Test against New Zealand in Perth.

Johnson chose to retire after returning with figures of 1/157 in 28 overs in the first innings. Interestingly, he returned with figures of 2/20 in six overs, as the game ended as a draw.

The left-arm quick expressed his happiness on the decision and revealed that he lost his hunger to play Test cricket.

Johnson scalped 313 wickets in 73 Test appearances, with 12 five-wicket hauls. He was the finest bowler with 37 wickets in the Ashes 2013-14, which saw Australia win 5-0 and also regain the trophy for the first time since 2006-07.

---

#5 Anil Kumble

Legendary Indian spinner Anil Kumble called time on his illustrious career during the Delhi Test against Australia in November 2008. The news was made public after the tea break on the final day of the third fixture of the four-match series.

Kumble picked up three wickets and scored 45 runs, as the game eventually ended as a draw. As per the spinner, his body was taking a toll on him and a finger injury sustained during the fixture allowed him to arrive at this decision.

Anil Kumble is still the top wicket-taker for the Indian side across all formats with 956 scalps in 403 games. In 132 Tests, he bagged 619 wickets with 35 five-wicket hauls. He is only one of the three bowlers to pick up all 10 wickets in a Test innings, a feat which he achieved in 1999 against Pakistan.