“Very disappointed with the way Ashwin left” - Indian legend slams team management over off-spinner’s retirement during BGT 2024-25

Following Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement, former Indian spinner Anil Kumble expressed his disappointment with the team management. As the 38-year-old off-spinner announced his sudden retirement after the Gabba Test, Kumble opined that he deserved a grand farewell.

The Indian legend slammed the team management, stating that there should have been a better plan for Ashwin's retirement. Unhappy with the way he left after the third Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test, Kumble mentioned that the management should offer appropriate plans to players before they leave.

The sudden retirement raised questions over the team management. It also left many in shock and disbelief. Kumble stated he was disappointed with the way Ashwin left.

"Players who have contributed for such a long period deserve a grand farewell. They need to be sat down and offered an appropriate plan on how you want them to leave the game. I was very disappointed with the way Ashwin left," Kumble wrote in his column for Sportstar (via Hindustan Times).

He added that many other players have also missed out on a farewell. This indicates his anger over the management not treating players properly before they leave.

Kumble lauded Ashwin for his achievements. He wrote that the benchmarks set by him will not be easy for anyone to live up to. He added that Ashwin served Indian cricket with 'distinction.'

“Many cricketers in the past missed out on a farewell, too. The kind of benchmarks he has set won’t be easy for anyone to live up to. He served Indian cricket with distinction," Kumble further wrote.

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Kumble wanted Ashwin to break his record of most Test wickets for India

Anil Kumble is India's leading wicket-taker in Tests with 619 scalps. Ashwin, on the other hand, ended his career with 537 Test wickets. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in the format, only behind Kumble himself.

Kumble recalled telling Ashwin that he wanted the off-spinner to get to 619 Test wickets. He believed that the 38-year-old would get to the mark despite a rare bad series against New Zealand at home.

“I remember telling Ashwin he should get to 600 when he crossed the 500 mark — and then 619. The way he was going, he had a very good chance. He didn’t have a great series against New Zealand, but that was one in 14 years,” he wrote.

The all-rounder managed to pick up only nine wickets in three Tests against the Kiwis at home. After missing out in the Perth Test, Ashwin was a part of the side in Adelaide. However, after being left out once again in Brisbane, he announced his retirement after the match ended.