Leg and Off: Did R Ashwin time his retirement perfectly?

Team India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin announced a bold, out-of-nowhere decision midway through the Border-Gavaskar series by retiring from international cricket. The veteran cricketer leaves behind a rich legacy that will be hard to replicate, but not many expected that he would walk away in this fashion.

Ashwin was spotted having an emotional moment in the dressing room with his teammates and officially announced his decision to retire during the post-match press conference at the Gabba in Brisbane.

“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats in the international level. “I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to … showcase that in club level cricket. I had a lot of fun. I must say, I created a lot of memories alongside Rohit (Sharma) and several of my other teammates," Ashwin told reporters after The Gabba Test (via Indian Express).

On that note, let us dive into the finer aspects of Ashwin's retirement decision, particularly its timing.

#1 Washington Sundar is on the rise

The pressure was heavy on Ashwin when India had to rope in another right-arm off-spinner midway through the home series against New Zealand. Sundar was brought on as another bowler who could take the ball away from the left-handers, and his batting input. But the way he overshadowed Ashwin was a major wake-up call, and a stark reminder of the veteran's waning prowess.

Sundar is an experienced member despite having only played seven Tests on a sporadic basis in close to four years. The all-rounder is the best possible successor to Ashwin, and given that he is more than ready to take on the spot on a full-time basis, the transition seems to have come at the right time.

The fellow Tamil Nadu spinner, with his tall frame like Ashwin and batting ability, becomes a viable candidate for overseas assignments as well. Given that Sundar has had to wait for so long on the sidelines, it is only apt that his wait will be over just a while after his best series, and perhaps Ashwin's worst.

#2 Team India's next home Test is far away

Ashwin is not one to be the sitting duck. Considering how India have been confused regarding their spin bowling choice in the Border-Gavaskar series, coupled with the fact that Jadeja might have sealed his place for the last two Tests, there was no point in him waiting.

As far as the World Test Championship (WTC) final is concerned, Ashwin knows more than anyone else that with the final taking place in England, he will be a spectator yet again if India qualify.

Ashwin's guaranteed next red-ball match would have been in India's home season in the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) campaign. West Indies are scheduled to tour India in October 2025, which is 10 months from now. Staying in limbo for that long does not make any sense, especially when committing to a whole cycle is doubtful, and the replacement is groomed and ready.

Now, with Ashwin out of the way, India can head into the new cycle with a new frontline off-spinner and give him a run of games to build some continuity in that regard. Big changes midway through the cycle are at times trickier to handle anyway, which makes Ashwin's timing right for India to decide on a successor, and give him a run of games to build confidence.

#3 An anti-climactic end and a lacklustre farewell

A player of Ashwin's stature deserved a far better sendoff than a mere announcement in a press room after a rain-curtailed draw away from home. It's one thing to be selfless, but retirement in this manner does not give room for fans to pay their homage.

Legends like Sourav Ganguly, Anil Kumble, and Sachin Tendulkar were carried on their teammates' shoulders in front of a jam-packed home crowd. There is no doubt that Ashwin was worthy of a similar treatment.

A tame home series against New Zealand and a one-off forgettable display with the pink ball is potentially the most regretful possible end to Ashwin's illustrious career.

#4 Entire spotlight should have been cast on the series

Ashwin's retirement is more of a statement than a decision. He made it clear that he would walk away from the team if he was not needed. That line of thinking is understandable, considering how many overseas matches Ashwin has watched from the sidelines. But doing midway through such a high-profile series, with a lot on the line, is a touch questionable.

There have been instances where players have retired midway through a Test series, but perhaps none where the stakes were this high. Some were forced to take this route due to injuries, like Shane Bond, Allan Donald and Anil Kumble.

A select few retired when they felt their time was done, and the series' fate was sealed, like Graeme Swann and MS Dhoni. Some decide right after they have given a poor performance like Mitchell Johnson or Damien Martyn.

Ashwin fell into none of these categories. He stated that he still had a lot to offer as a player. The series is poised for a tantalizing end, with the Border-Gavaskar title and the World Test Championship (WTC) final at stake. It arguably could not get any bigger than that. Lastly, there were no major concerns about his form or fitness.

Under these circumstances, he could have considered retiring at least after the series, and not when there was still a lot to play for. When selectors make the decision to pick a player, they expect his services for the entirety of the series, irrespective of whether they are regular in the playing XI.

The management must have thought of a plan before including three spinners in the squad, with respect to either the form or team combination. That choice should have been respected, instead of retiring midway through the campaign.

However, in the end, as Rohit Sharma said: