Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, December 19, 2024. While the announcement was sudden for others, it was not so for the player himself. What lessons can be learned from his decision?
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, December 19, 2024, following his exclusion from the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane. He was dropped from the first Test match in Perth and was called for pink-ball Test in Adelaide, but after being left out again from the third Test that was in Brisbane, he decided to retire international cricket.
The 38-year-old cricketer debuted in 2011 against the West Indies and retired with an illustrious record of taking 156 wickets in ODIs, 72 in T20Is, and a staggering 537 wickets in Tests, alongside scoring 3,503 runs.
His retirement announcement left not only fans but also cricket legends stunned. Even Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev called him after he returned to Chennai, shows the player’s X post.
While he described his decision as ‘instinctive’, his father shared that it could be humiliation which led him to announce retirement suddenly.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri called Ashwin a ‘terrific match-winner’ with a ‘fabulous record’. He said, "Anyone with over 500 wickets in Test cricket is special." Shastri also hailed Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as the ‘Spin Twins’ who ‘bowled in tandem’ to secure key victories.
Jadeja expressed his surprise at the decision, reportedly saying, "I got to know about it at the last moment, almost five minutes before the press conference. We all know how Ashwin's mind works”, reported PTI.
Value Of A Strong Support System: Retirement brings its own issues with it, such as a sudden void in life, lack of purpose sometime, more free time, and without a clarity or direction, it may become difficult to handle the sudden change in life. During this while, whether it is an early retirement or at the stipulated age, sudden, or planned, a strong support system of family and friends can make the transition smoother, as seen in Ashwin’s case.
In an Instagram post, his wife Preeti Narayanan, wrote, "As you end your wonderful international run, I only want to tell you that it's all good. It is all going to be good. It is time to set the burden of being you down. Live life on your terms, make space for those extra calories, make time for your family, make time to do absolutely nothing, share memes all day, create a new bowling variation, bug our kids out of their minds. Just do it all."
A strong support system makes life transitions easier and provides emotional stability.
Perform Well And Leave A Legacy: Consistent excellence and strong work ethics are always remembered. Ravi Shastri reportedly raised Ashwin for his relentless pursuit of evolution, saying, “What stands out for me was his wanting to evolve all the time. He wasn't the kind of guy satisfied as to where he started”. A work that is remembered becomes a legacy and even after retirement people remember and you stay relevant for them. This not only helps to stay connected but also open doors to avenues to keep involved and earning.
Future Planning: On his sudden decision, Ashwin reportedly said, "It was very instinctive, and it has been running in my head for a while. I just felt (it) on day four and I just called it a day. I have not set any new goals, as I just want to relax now. Actually, it's difficult for me to stay inactive, but I want to try that now." While he shares no clear future, he has work in hand as he will play in the IPL next year.
Though Ashwin’s decision may seem sudden to others, it was not so for the player himself as he had likely been considering it for some time. For anyone planning early retirement, it’s essential to evaluate all aspects: financial, emotional, relational, and medical. Even unexpected shocks should be part of the planning.Most importantly, it should be discussed with the family to ensure they are prepared and supportive.
Retirement is a significant incident and needs to be well thought out. As for Ashwin, despite stepping away from the international arena, he will continue playing in the 2025 IPL with the Chennai Super Kings.