Ravichandran Ashwin has left international cricket after the third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane. The veteran spinner announced retirement midway through the series, leaving the former players shocked and surprised. Several cricket experts are not ready to accept that there is nothing behind the scenes, and it was a simple case of a player feeling that his time was over.
Aakash Chopra is the latest player to speak on the development. He thinks that the bowler was not given backing by the team management and gave preference to Washington Sundar over him.
“He actually felt that he couldn’t take it more. There is a time in everyone’s life when a person can bear it more. He should have felt bad that there was no place for him in the overseas matches. He is not the number one spinner outside India, and he made peace with it.
“Ravindra Jadeja is a once-in-a-generation talent, and you can’t get a player like him every time. He knew that only one spinner would play, and Jadeja was a better batsman than him. It doesn’t mean Ashwin can’t bat. He has six hundreds and scored a ton against Bangladesh in Chennai.
“But Jaddu was always ahead of him in overseas matches. When Washington Sundar played Perth Test, Ashwin decided it’s enough. Rohit had to convinve him for pink-ball Test. The moment he was dropped from Gabba contest, Ashwin said its over,” he said.
Aakash mentioned that Ashwin would have continued to play for India if the picture had been made clear in front of him.
“I think he should not have taken retirement if someone told him that he only had one bad series against New Zealand, and the team would need him in England, and then the home season would start. Nobody had that kind of conversation with him and it seems the team management refused to give him any guarantee for his place in the Playing XI,” he added.
The cricket-turned-commentator didn’t like the midway series decision.
“Leaving in the middle of the series is not a good thing as three spinners were selected, and the team might require anyone. The replacement hasn’t been announced, meaning Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar are the only options. The series is opened and you could make it to the WTC final.”
Aakash observed that Ashwin’s call might trigger more retirements.
“Is Ashwin’s decision is going to trigger more retirements? The wheel has been set in motion and get ready for the trasnsition. One has gone and any other might follow him. The next three weeks are important as we will get a clear pitcure where this team is heading,” he concluded.