Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has announced that he will retire from international cricket. Ashwin had a remarkable career that lasted over a decade, and he is considered one of the best players in cricket history. He made this announcement on Wednesday during a press conference in Brisbane, where he was with India’s captain, Rohit Sharma. Ashwin is leaving a big mark in cricket, having taken 765 wickets in all formats of the game.

“This will be my last year as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level," Ashwin said, expressing both a sense of accomplishment and readiness for his next chapter. Despite the strong desire to continue playing, Ashwin added, “I feel there’s a little bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I’d like to express that and showcase that in club-level cricket."

Reflecting on his remarkable journey, he shared, “I’ve had a lot of fun. I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my teammates, even though we’ve lost some of them to retirements over the last few years. We’re the last bunch of OGs; we can say that. I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level."

Ashwin decided to retire after an amazing career full of great achievements. He thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and his teammates for their help and support during his career. The current Border-Gavaskar Trophy series was Ashwin's final one, with the Adelaide Test being his last international match.

Ashwin's iconic career and records

Ravichandran Ashwin started his international career in 2010, playing his first ODI and T20I in the same month. In 2011, he played his first Test match against the West Indies and quickly became an important player for India. Over his career, Ashwin became India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 wickets in 106 Tests. He finished his Test career with an impressive average of 24 and took 37 five-wicket hauls, making him one of the best bowlers in the world.

Along with his excellent bowling, Ashwin also made significant contributions as a batsman, scoring 3503 runs in Test matches. This includes six centuries and 14 fifties. His all-round performance has been remarkable, making him one of only 11 players in Test cricket history to score over 3000 runs and take more than 300 wickets.