Ravichandran Ashwin returns to Chennai a day after announcing retirement from international cricket; Watch

Ravichandran Ashwin returned to Chennai from Australia on Thursday, a day after the former India all-rounder announced retirement from international cricket. A video uploaded by news agency PTI showed Ashwin arriving at the Chennai International Airport and making his way to his car after being escorted by local officials. He was welcomed by his family on his arrival in Chennai. Ashwin, however, did not talk to the media.

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Ashwin had announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday after the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane ended in a draw. “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 at the post-match press conference on Wednesday.

Ashwin, a veteran of 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, thanked the BCCI, Virat Kohli, current India skipper Rohit Sharma among several others. “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.

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

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Ashwin has particularly enjoyed a remarkable career in Tests for India, taking 537 wickets and scoring 3503 runs while also breaking several records. The 38-year-old also took 156 wickets in 116 ODIs, and 72 wickets from 65 T20Is and also scored 707 runs and 184 runs in the two formats respectively.

Sunil Gavaskar questions timing of Ashwin’s retirement 

While many congratulated Ashwin on his remarkable 14-year international career, the legendary Sunil Gavaskar felt that it was not right from Ashwin to retire midway through a series . “Listen, after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India’. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the third Test in the 2014-15 series, it leaves you one (player) short,” Gavaskar told broadcasters. “Normally, you tend to look at the end of the series (to retire). That’s it. In the middle, it is not usual,” he added.

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Gavaskar said that Ashwin could have retired after the completion of the series. “The selection committee has picked so many players for a tour with a purpose. If there are any injuries, they can select from the reserve players to have in the team. So Sydney (venue for the fifth Test) is somewhere where there is a lot of support on offer for spinners. So India could have played with two spinners. You never know, he (Ashwin) could have been there for sure. I don’t know how the pitch in Melbourne (venue of fourth Test) will be like," he elaborated.