"I didn't want him to get out" - Ravichandran Ashwin gets emotional while speaking about receiving a call from childhood idol post retirement   

Team India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has said that he was overwhelmed at receiving calls from his childhood idols Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev after he announced his retirement from international cricket. Recalling how big a fan he was of Tendulkar while growing up, the Tamil Nadu cricketer added that he never wanted to get him out.

Ashwin (38) confirmed his retirement from international cricket after the third Test between India and Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane ended in a draw. The veteran cricketer attended the post-match press conference with skipper Rohit Sharma and announced his decision to quit international cricket.

Following his decision, Ashwin received a wave of support from fans and members of the cricket fraternity from across the globe. Two Indian legends, Tendulkar and Kapil, personally called him up to wish him on his tremendous career. Speaking to former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports, Ashwin shared his emotions on getting calls from his cricketing idols. He said:

"I went to bed one night thinking what the hell have I done? People like Sachin and Kapil Dev. Growing up to me Sachin was everything. I didn't want him to get out. To get a call from him, he spoke to me at depth about how he felt when he hung up his boots.

"Then Kapil Dev calling me and speaking about what he felt and thought of me was (overwhelming). I have a massive amount of gratitude (for the love that I have received)," the 38-year-old added.

The off-spinner, with 537 Test scalps from 106 Tests at an average of 24, had proudly shared a screen shot of his mobile call log on his social media handle, which displayed the names of former India captains Tendulkar and Kapil.

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"That was never the case" - Ashwin reacts to being branded a numbers man

The Tamil Nadu cricketer has achieved some magnificent feats in international cricket, especially in the Test format. Some critics and fans, though, have termed him as a numbers man. During the interaction with Hussain and Atherton rejected all such claims and asserted that what excited him was to explore his very best.

"I won't be seventh on the list for a long time. Nathan Lyon is breathing down my neck. Glad to be number 8, glad to be whatever number I happen to become eventually. One tag that have always come behind me, that people have tended to say that I am a numbers man, I know my numbers, probably gave the impression that I went after number, that was never the case," Ashwin clarified.

"It was all about getting excited to be something else the very next day that I played the game. The game gave me so much to a point where it allowed me to be creative and explore the best inside me. So grateful to the game for giving me all those avenues," he went on to add.

The Indian cricketer is seventh on the list of leading Test wicket-takers. Veteran Australian offie Lyon (533) is next in the list, followed by West Indies legend Courtney Walsh (519).