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Ravichandran Ashwin proudly says he answered his cricketing call after bringing down the curtain on his historic career with India.
The 38-year-old announced his retirement from international cricket after a brilliant 14-yard career in which he took 765 international wickets across all formats and became the seventh highest Test wicket-taker of all time.
Speaking exclusively with Sky Sports Cricket PodcastAshwin revealed how his deep-rooted passion for cricket not only improved him as a player but also gave meaning to his life.
“I just gave it my all, despite knowing it’s not the popular or accepted method,” he said. “My journey is completely mine.
“I have seen many cricketers over the years with exceptional skills and talents, but the ability to articulate or teach another person about this is something very unique and one that people only realize if they have explored it themselves.
“The amount of exploration I’ve had to do to be very successful has left me with a wide variety of knowledge to be able to say, with confidence, that this is a game that I love and that I can explore and talk brutally about for the rest of my life . my life.
“I don’t regret it because I had to do it the hard way, but it left me with the idea that gaming was my calling. People find their calling at different stages of their life, but I’m so glad that this game has found me and given me meaning to life.
“I’ve been playing Test cricket for so long that it even taught me how to build and live my life. It’s the most beautiful thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Ashwin announced his retirement after India draws Australia in Brisbane testmatch for which he was not selected.
He revealed that he had considered retiring in the past, but ultimately made the decision when his creativity could no longer be realized.
The cricketer in me is not done, I see myself doing a lot more in the years to come. That tag of being an Indian cricketer can be overwhelming. Now that I have that out of the way, I have an avenue to explore much more in the coming years, as long as my body allows me.
“I’ve never been a person who clings to things, I’ve never felt insecure in life,” he added. “I don’t think what’s mine today is going to be mine tomorrow. That’s probably been one of my lifting factors all these years.
“I always wanted to leave things behind as indifferently as possible because I don’t believe in people celebrating me, I don’t believe in the attention that we sometimes get in India. It’s the game that was always in front of me, all the time.
“I contemplated (retiring) a few times. For me, the day I woke up and felt like my creative side had no future or direction, that would be the day I would quit. I suddenly felt like the creative side didn’t have many advantages to explore.” “.
After finishing his career as India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker (537) and hitting six hundred and 14 half-centuries, Ashwin reflected on a defining moment during England’s tour of India in 2012 that helped sculpt him into into the player he became.
In the second Test in Mumbai, Ashwin posted figures of 2-145 and was bowled at the Wankhede Stadium by Kevin Pietersen, who top-scored with 186, as England claimed a 10-wicket victory to level the series.
It left an indelible mark on Ashwin, who added: “I have one regret in life. I know KP is a very proud man, I have seen him talk a lot about how he brought us down in Mumbai.
“Very early in my career, in the formative years, things that went wrong on the technical side put me on the path to excellence.
“I wanted to face KP every time after that. He’s a wonderful hitter, but anyone who didn’t have a really solid defense was someone I liked because I’m very good at picking out players, players who sweep.
“In that particular series against KP and Alastair Cook, one of the best batsmen I’ve ever bowled with, my alignments were so bad. My left leg was so extended that I couldn’t get my correct length at all.
“For the rest of my career, since 2012, it was all about finding different solutions. I’m very grateful that the series went down that path, because if it hadn’t happened, maybe it wouldn’t have put me on the path to excelling as bowler because excelling as a bowler is more internal than external.”
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