'Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement questioned by Basit Ali: Is he really not a match winner?'

New Delhi: R Ashwin, one of India's finest all-rounders, has officially retired from international cricket after the conclusion of the third Test against Australia at GABBA. With a remarkable career that saw him clinch a total of 537 Test wickets, Ashwin now sits at the second spot in India's list of highest Test wicket-takers and seventh globally. Known for his bowling prowess, Ashwin also showcased his batting skills by scoring six centuries in Test matches, solidifying his place among cricketing legends. In the limited-overs format, he claimed 156 wickets in ODIs and 72 in T20Is. His overall tally of 765 wickets across all formats cements his position as the second-highest wicket-taker for India and the 11th globally.

Ex-Pakistani cricket player Basit Ali voiced some apprehensions regarding Ashwin’s decision to retire and its timing. He proposed that Ashwin’s retirement would have made more sense after the domestic series against New Zealand, but if Ashwin opted to be part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ali feels that he ought to have stayed till the last Test match wrapped up. Also, he commented that encouragement from Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir could have nudged Ashwin to play the fifth Test in Sydney.

“Do you know when Ashwin should have taken retirement? Either he should have taken retirement after Sundar was called for the second Test match against New Zealand. Or he should have taken retirement after these five Test matches. After three Tests, it was a bad decision. Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir should have convinced Ashwin to wait till the 5th Test. He should have been told you are needed in two Test matches and you will obviously be needed in Sydney,” he said on his YouTube channel.

Ali praised Ashwin, highlighting his exceptional legacy and vital contributions to the Indian cricket team. He emphasized that the 38-year-old is more than just a player who turns the tide of a single match – he’s a stellar performer who carries entire series for his country.