NEW DELHI: Hours after Ravichandran Ashwin father’s explosive statement on his sudden retirement from international cricket due to ‘humiliation’, the spinner made a clarification on social media, pointing out that his ‘dad isn’t media trained’.
Ashwin, 38, confirmed his shock retirement on Wednesday after the completion of the third India vs Australia Test in Brisbane.
But his father on Thursday claimed that one of the reasons behind his son’s sudden retirement call was the ‘humiliation’ he faced in the team.
Ashwin’s father Ravichandran said that regular omissions from playing XI forced him to quit.
Clarifying on the statement, Ashwin requested on social media to forgive his father and leave him alone.
“I too came to know last minute, actually,” CNN News18 quoted Ashwin’s father Ravichandran as saying.
“What was going on in his mind I don’t know. He just announced. I too accepted it with full pleasure. I did not have any feeling at all for that. But the way he gave his retirement, one part I was very happy, another part not happy because he should have continued.
“(Retiring) is his (Ashwin’s) wish and desire, I cannot interfere in that, but the way in which he gave that, there could be many reasons. Only Ashwin knows, maybe humiliation,” he said.
“Definitely, no doubt about it (being emotional for the family), because he was on the field for 14-15 years. The sudden change – retirement – gave us really kind of a shock. At the same time, we were expecting it because humiliation was going on. How long he can tolerate all those things? Probably, he would have decided on his own,” Ravichandran said.
Soon after his retirement, Ashwin took a flight back to India and returned to Chennai — his home — on Thursday.
Ashwin concluded his illustrious Test career as India’s second-highest wicket-taker, claiming 537 wickets in 106 matches. He stands only behind the legendary Anil Kumble, who holds the record with 619 wickets.
Ashwin featured in the second Test of the series in Adelaide but was omitted from the third Test in Brisbane.
Despite stepping away from international Test cricket, Ashwin will continue to play in domestic competitions, including the IPL, where he is set to return to the Chennai Super Kings next season.