"The one who came on a scooter is now in a level to buy an aeroplane" - Former India keeper hails R Ashwin following spinner’s sudden retirement

Team India's veteran off-spinner R Ashwin stumped fans with his sudden retirement from international cricket this week. The veteran bowler drew curtains on his illustrious career following the recently concluded Brisbane Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

After the announcement, Ashwin's former India and Tamil Nadu teammate Dinesh Karthik reserved massive praise for the wily spinner. He spoke about how the 38-year-old is very inquisitive and asks a lot of questions in the dressing room.

Karthik also pointed out that despite not being hailed as a promising talent during the early days of his career, Ashwin went on to achieve tremendous success at the highest level.

In a video shared by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Instagram, Karthik said:

"Only if you sit in the dugout with him, you'll know, one will wonder did he pick 500 Test wickets because he will ask questions. He is a very interesting personality. You won't find more people like him. Apart from that, he is a great example.

"From being considered as not a big talent, to achieving such a big thing is a great example. Unbelievable effort. Superb. The one who came on a scooter is now in a level to buy an aeroplane today."

R Ashwin is arguably one of the greatest off-spinners India has produced. With 765 scalps across formats, he is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in international cricket. He also did an impressive job with the bat during his Test career, finishing with six tons and 14 fifties.

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"He is the greatest-ever cricketer that's come out from Tamil Nadu" - Dinesh Karthik on R Ashwin

Dinesh Karthik hailed R Ashwin as the greatest-ever cricketer from Tamil Nadu. He recalled that when he saw the spinner for the first time, he didn't have a lot of tricks up his sleeve.

The cricketer-turned-commentator lauded Ashwin for growing from a 'one-trick' pony to one of the most innovative bowlers. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Karthik said:

"He is the greatest-ever cricketer that's come out from Tamil Nadu. I saw him when he was playing U14, and he was a one-trick pony. He could just bowl fast and flat. From there to becoming an absolute geek and scientist that' they all call him because of how he is able to innovate and change things in the middle of the game or series."

R Ashwin will return to the cricket field in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). It will be a homecoming for him as was roped in by CSK for ₹9.75 crore at the IPL 2025 auction.