Ravichandran Ashwin makes special mention for 4 Indian teammates during retirement speech, says ’There’s a bit left…’

Ravichandran Ashwin made a special mention for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara during his retirement speech on Wednesday after the veteran off-spinner bid adieu to international cricket after an illustrious career that spanned for 14 years. Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket came moments after India drew the third Test against Australia in the ongoing Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). 

The 38-year-old retirement was already on the cards when Virat Kohli was caught hugging the off-spinner on Wednesday morning, the visuals of which went viral on social media. Approving the visuals, Ashwin accompanied captain Rohit Sharma in the post-match press conference and eventually announced about his retirement.     

“I think it would be unfortunate to have me around his side (on sitting with Rohit at the PC), since he has announced I’m not going to take too much of your time, this will be my last year as an Indian cricketer at the international level. There’s a bit left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to exploit it at the domestic and club-level cricket, but this would be the last day (at the international level),” Ashwin said.  

“I have had a lot of fun, a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my other teammates. We’ve lost some of them over the last few years, we’ve been the last bunch of OGs I can say that are left out in the dressing room. I can mark this as my last day in the dressing room. I have several people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI and my teammates. 

“I want to name a few of them, all the coaches who’ve been part of the journey, most importantly Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya, Pujara, who have taken a number of catches around the bat and have given men a number of wickets that I’ve managed over a number of years. Also want to thank the Australian team who’ve been fierce competitors over a number of years, I’ve enjoyed my team playing against them. 

“I’ve stopped as a cricketer, but I’ll go on and be involved with the game, it’s a game which has given me a lot,” he said.