Eerie similarities between R Ashwin & Anil Kumble's retirement matches go viral after BGT 2024-25 3rd Test

R Ashwin rather surprisingly announced his retirement after the end of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test at The Gabba on Wednesday (December 18). Soon after he announced his retirement, an interesting similarity between him and legendary spinner Anil Kumble started to go viral on social media.

Notably, R Ashwin and Anil Kumble are the only two Indian spinners with over 500 Test wickets. Kumble is the highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 619 scalps, while Ashwin ended just behind him with 537.

Interestingly, Kumble retired in November 2008 after the third Test of the 2008 BGT series against Australia. The third Test was played in Delhi, and the match ended in a draw.

Coincidentally, R Ashwin's retirement came after the third Test of the ongoing BGT 2024-25 series, which also ended in a draw. Further, Kumble's final wicket was that of Mitchell Johnson, whom he dismissed in Australia's first innings of the third Test in 2008 in Delhi.

R Ashwin, who last played in the Adelaide Test, accounted for the wicket of Mitchell Marsh as his final scalp. Both the cricketers hence retired after a drawn third match of a BGT series, with their final wickets being a Mitchell (Johnson and Marsh respectively).

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R Ashwin ends behind Anil Kumble in terms of Test wickets

Looking at Ashwin and Kumble's careers, it is to be noted that the off-spinner finished as India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test history.

Kumble grabbed 619 Test wickets and is still India's highest wicket-taker in the format to date. Meanwhile, Ashwin finished with 537 Test wickets to his name.

In what turned out to be his final Test in Adelaide, Ashwin scored 22 runs in the first innings and picked up the lone wicket of Mitchell Marsh. He scored seven runs in India's second innings and did not bowl in Australia's second essay.