"After we won the 2011 World Cup” - R Ashwin on people’s reception at his house upon retirement

Ravichandran Ashwin received a grand welcome at his house in Chennai upon returning from Australia following his retirement. The veteran off-spinner announced his retirement after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Brisbane on Wednesday, December 18.

Ashwin landed in India within 24 hours of bidding farewell to international cricket. He was welcomed wholeheartedly at the Chennai airport and people turned in huge numbers in front of his house to welcome the legendary cricketer.

The 38-year-old was taken aback after receiving such a huge reception. Addressing reporters outside his house, Ashwin revealed that the last time he received such a reception was after winning the 2011 ODI World Cup.

"Thank you so much for coming over here," the veteran spinner said. "I didn’t expect that so many of you would come here. I just thought I’ll come quietly, sit, and relax at home. But this has made my day, thank you. After playing Test cricket for so many years – the last time it (the reception) was like this after we won the 2011 World Cup and I came home. It’s the same feeling so you go down the same memory lane and walk back from it."

Ashwin further revealed that the decision was very spontaneous and he thought about it only a day before calling it quits in international cricket.

"It’s not. It’s emotional for a lot of people. It will be emotional, maybe it will sink in. But for me personally, I think it’s a great sense of relief and satisfaction. It’s very instinctive – it’s been running in my head for a while but it’s very instinctive. I just felt on Day 4 and just called it on Day 5 itself," he added.

Ravichandran Ashwin signs off as the second-highest Indian wicket-taker in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 matches. He is only behind Anil Kumble who finished with 619 Test wickets.

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"I am laughing" - Ravichandran Ashwin replies when asked if he is happy with the decision

The former No.1 Test bowler looked jovial while speaking to reporters outside his house. When asked if he was happy with the decision, Ashwin replied:

"Can’t you see it, I am laughing. What more do I need?"

Speaking about his future goals, Ashwin jokingly said that he would try to remain quiet for something. He concluded:

"Nothing at all, I just want to be quiet for a while. For me staying quiet (without doing anything) is difficult so that’s what I’m going to try a little."

Ashwin's last outing in an India shirt came in the second Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Brisbane. He scored 29 runs and picked up one wicket across two innings, as India lost the Test by 10 wickets.