NEW DELHI: After former India captain Kapil Dev voiced his dissatisfaction over Ravichandran Ashwin not being given a grand farewell, the recently-retired player reckons otherwise, saying he doesn’t believe in grand farewell ceremonies.
Ashwin stunned the cricketing world midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by announcing his retirement from international cricket at the end of third Test in Brisbane last week.
“I wish I had been there, I wouldn’t have let him go like that. I would have sent him with a lot of respect and happiness,” Kapil told ANI.
However, Ashwin expressed that grand farewells are inappropriate, stating that such send-offs cater more to a culture of super celebrity worship.
“As far as I am concerned, grand farewells are wrong. I don’t think you should give grand farewell ceremonies to anyone. Especially, I firmly believe that you shouldn’t give me a grand farewell. I don’t want anyone shedding a drop of tear for me. I think grand send-offs are part of a super celebrity culture,” Ashwin told television presenter Gobinath on a YouTube show.
Why should we run behind someone? I understand we run behind someone for the love we have for them. But I feel that people should get inspired by one’s achievements, the legacy that one leaves behind, the way one left the game, and the way one has spoken about the game. But farewells are wrong, I think. If there is a match that has been organised just to celebrate me, I think it’s a disservice to the game,” Ashwin added.
“I don’t have any regrets about it. Zero regrets. If I am not happy with 537 wickets, then for what will I be happy? Why should I be sad about something that’s not there? There is great joy in acceptance. You chase something that you don’t have. But don’t regret something that you don’t have. Don’t crib about it.”
Ashwin insisted that the call to retire was entirely his own decision and that he did not shed a single tear on his final day as international cricketer.
Ashwin clarified that the decision to retire from the game was entirely his own, emphasising that no one else was responsible for it.
“I quit this part of my life. It was a full stop to that part of my life. I can talk cricket, I do YouTube, I love coaching. I can keep myself happy around cricket. I will stay connected with cricket.
“I don’t have any regrets; I am not angry at anyone. I didn’t cry even one bit. No one else is responsible for my retirement. If there’s someone, I am not aware of it,” he added.