NEW DELHI: Cricket legend EAS Prasanna suggests team management’s lack of support might have influenced Ravichandran Ashwin‘s retirement from international cricket.
Ashwin surprised the cricketing world by announcing his retirement after the drawn third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Brisbane. Ashwin signed off with 537 wickets in 106 Tests, placing him second on India’s all-time Test wicket-takers list behind legendary Anil Kumble.
“I was surprised by his decision to retire. Maybe he got some indication from the team management that he is no longer in the scheme of things, which might have forced him to take his decision,” the 84-year-old remarked in an interview with Rediff.com.
Ashwin’s frequent omissions from the playing XI during overseas tours, including the current Australian series, have drawn considerable attention. His last match for India was the Adelaide pink-ball Test, where he returned figures of 1/53 in 18 overs and 29 runs across two innings.
Prasanna suggested the lack of consistent opportunities in overseas matches might have hampered Ashwin’s performance abroad.
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“He didn’t get to play matches whenever India traveled overseas, including in the current tour of Australia, and that might have played a role in his decision,” Prasanna added.
But Prasanna praised Ashwin as one of the greatest spinners of the modern era, drawing a comparison with Australia’s Nathan Lyon.
“I would say he is the greatest spinner of this era. He had a great record, second-highest wicket-taker for India after Anil Kumble. He is the last of the classical spinners of this generation along with Nathan Lyon, who excelled in the Test format.”
Prasanna anticipates Ashwin’s smooth transition into a mentoring role, leveraging his tactical acumen and cricketing intelligence.
“With all his qualities, he would be better off imparting his knowledge to younger players in coaching and mentoring roles,” he concluded.
Ashwin’s retirement signifies the end of an era in Indian cricket, leaving a void yet paving the way for his continued contribution in nurturing the next generation of spinners.