Former off-spinner R Ashwin thought about retiring after his 100th Test but finally took the call midway into the tour of Australia to ensure the ‘whole circle’ related to his spot in the playing eleven doesn’t repeat itself.
Speaking on a newly-launched podcast by Chennai Super Kings, Ashwin told fellow CSK member Mike Hussey that he made up his mind on retirement after not starting the Australia series in Perth where Washington Sundar played ahead of the veteran off-spinner.
Ashwin did play the second at Adelaide before being left out of the XI for the third Test at Gabba where he eventually brought the curtains down to a glorious career. “I wanted to do it after my 100th Test [in Dharamsala, March 2024]. And then I thought, Ok, let me give it a go in the home season. Because, I mean, you’re playing well, and you’re getting wickets, you’re making runs,” Ashwin said.
“I thought I’d probably close off with the Chennai Test here [against Bangladesh]. I ended up getting a six-wicket haul and a hundred. So it’s very tough to quit when you’re doing very well.”