Ravichandran Ashwin retires: Everything he said at final press conference as India cricketer

Ravichandran Ashwin dropped the international cricket retirement bombshell on Wednesday as India’s third Test against Australia ended in a draw at The Gabba in Brisbane. Immediately after the third match in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended in a draw, Ashwin joined captain Rohit Sharma at the press conference, announcing that he was retiring from international cricket. The 38-year-old, however, admitted that he has a “bit of punch left” in him as a cricketer and would continue to play club cricket.

Ashwin bids adieu to international cricket: Everything he said at the press conference

“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to express that and probably showcase that in club-level cricket, but this will be the last day [for India],” Ashwin said after the Brisbane Test at a press conference.

“I’ve had a lot of fun. I must say I have created a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and several of my other team-mates, even though I have lost some of them [from the India team] over the last few years. We’re the last bunch of OGs, if we can say that, left out in the dressing room, and I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level.

Ashwin thanks BCCI, Rohit and Kohli

“Obviously there are a lot of people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI and the fellow team-mates. Several of them. I want to name a few of them. All the coaches who have been part of the journey. Most importantly, Rohit, Virat [Kohli], Ajinkya [Rahane], [Cheteshwar] Pujara, who have taken those splendid catches around the bat to give me the number of wickets I’ve managed to get over the years.

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“Also a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who have been very fierce competitors. I have enjoyed my time playing against them.”

“Truly a very emotional moment. I don’t think I am in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way. Please pardon me for that. Thanks for being the journalists you’ve been, writing good things and of course writing nasty things on occasions. That’s a relationship I think we would maintain forever, and I hope the cricketers to come in the future will also get the same amount of love.”

🗣️ "I've had a lot of fun and created a lot of memories."

All-rounder R Ashwin reflects after bringing the curtain down on a glorious career 👌👌#TeamIndia | #ThankYouAshwin | @ashwinravi99 pic.twitter.com/dguzbaousg

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 18, 2024

Ashwin confirms he will stay connected with the game

“See you soon. As a cricketer, I have just stopped it. Might go on to be involved with the game, because this is a game that has given me everything.”

The Chennai spinner retires as one of India’s biggest match-winners, having taken 537 wickets at an average of 24 in 106 Tests. Overall Ashwin took 765 wickets in 287 international matches.