“I did contemplate a few times” - Ravichandran Ashwin explains his decision to retire midway through BGT 2024-25

Recently retired Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has revealed that he thought about retiring for quite a while before finally announcing it midway through the series against Australia. He said that he no longer saw any rise or a different direction in his creativity.

The 38-year-old shocked the fraternity by announcing his retirement immediately following the third Test against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane. His final Test was against Australia in Adelaide but was largely ineffective, managing a solitary wicket in 18 overs in the only innings he bowled.

Speaking to Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton on Sky Sports, here's what the veteran said about his retirement:

"I did contemplate a few times. For me, the day I woke up and felt the creative side of me didn't have a future or direction, that would be the day I would give it up. I suddenly felt that creative side didn't have a lot of upsides to explore."

Ashwin also claimed that he wants to leave things behind calmly instead of being too insecure about them and always considers the game to be above him. He said:

"I've never been a person who holds onto things, I've never felt insecure in life. I don't believe what is mine today is going to be mine tomorrow. That has probably been one of my elevating factors all these years.

"I always wanted to leave things behind as nonchalantly as I can because I do not believe in people celebrating me, I don't believe in the attention we get sometimes in India. It is the game that always stood ahead of me, all the time."

The Tamil Nadu-born cricketer was one of the chief architects of India's unbeaten streak in the Test series at home from 2012-2024. In 65 Tests at home, he has claimed 383 scalps at 21.44 alongside 29 fifers and six 10-wicket hauls. the right-hander has also churned out 1989 runs, headlined by four centuries.

---

"The amount of exploration I have had to do to be very successful has left me with a wide variety of knowledge" - Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin. (Image Credits: Getty)

Ashwin also boasted about his ability to talk about the sport of cricket in massive ways due to how much he has explored it, adding:

"The amount of exploration I have had to do to be very successful has left me with a wide variety of knowledge to be able to say, with confidence, that this is a game I love and can explore and brutally talk about for the rest of my life."

The 38-year-old will still continue to play in the IPL. He will play for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in IPL 2025.