R Ashwin, after retiring from Test cricket, envisions a broader role on the cricket field in the coming years. His retirement announcement after the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy surprised many.
He returned to his hometown, Chennai, to a warm welcome.
In a Sky Sports interview with former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, Ashwin explained that a lack of creative satisfaction contributed to his decision.
“One line I have always said when people ask me ‘what is next?’ I have said the day I wake up and feel that creative side doesn’t have a future or direction is when I would probably give it up.
“I certainly think that creative side did not have a lot of upside to explore. There are laboratories available in world cricket today. So I thought okay if this is not the lab, I can find another one,” said the second highest wicket taker for India in Test cricket.
He plans to continue playing club cricket, including the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Ashwin, currently seventh on the all-time leading wicket-takers list, acknowledges Nathan Lyon is close behind. He expresses contentment with any eventual ranking.
“I won’t be seventh on the list for a long time. Nathan Lyon is breathing down my neck. Glad to be number 8, glad to be whatever number I happen to become eventually.
“One tag that have always come behind me, that people have tended to say that I am a numbers man, I know my numbers, probably gave the impression that I went after number, that was never the case.
“It was all about getting excited to be something else the very next day that I played the game. The game gave me so much to a point where it allowed me to be creative and explore the best inside me. So grateful to the game for giving me all those avenues.
“The cricketer in me is yet to be done. I do visualise myself doing a lot more in the next few years, that tag of being an Indian cricketer can be overwhelming. Now that is off my back, I do have an avenue to explore much more as long as my body is allowing me to do so,” he said.
Ashwin’s retirement decision was somewhat unique. He doesn’t dwell on decisions and avoids attachment.
“There is always that question lies inside you. You keep asking yourself, am I really making this decision the right way? In my case it was slightly different. I don’t know how to position this. But I have never been the kind to hold on to things. I have never felt insecure in life.
“I don’t believe what I have today is probably going to be mine tomorrow. Probably that has been one of my elevating factors. I always wanted to leave things behind as nonchalantly as I can because I do not believe in people celebrating me, I don’t believe in the kind of attention we get sometimes in India. It is always the game that is always stood ahead of me,” said Ashwin.
The outpouring of support after his retirement surprised him. He received calls from his childhood idols, Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev.
“I went to bed one night thinking what the hell have I done? People like Sachin and Kapil Dev. Growing up to me Sachin was everything. I didn’t want him to get out. To get a call from him, he spoke to me at depth about how he felt when he hung up his boots.
“Then Kapil Dev calling me and speaking about what he felt and thought of me was (overwhelming). I have a massive amount of gratitude (for the love that I have received),” he added.