Ashwin was humiliated, his sudden retirement shocked us: Father Ravichandran
R Ashwin’s father, Ravichandran, revealed that the off-spinner’s retirement decision came as a surprise to many in their family, adding that he wanted his son to continue playing for the senior national team. Ravichandran alleged that his son was being humiliated, which he suggested could have been one of the reasons for Ashwin’s sudden retirement from international cricket.
While Ravichandran did not elaborate on the specifics of his allegation, it appears he was alluding to the lack of consistent opportunities for Ashwin in overseas Tests.
Ashwin reitred from international cricket midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The off-spinner announced his decision, minutes after the third Test between India and Australia ended in Brisbane on Wednesday, December 18. Ashwin reached Chennai as early as Thursday morning.
“I too came to know (about his retirement) in the last minute, actually,” Ravichandran told News18.
“Retiring is his 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 added.
When asked if the family was emotional when Ashwin dropped the bombshell on Wednesday, Ashwin’s father said: “No doubt about it (emotional moment 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 that also because humiliation was going on. How long he can just tolerate all those things? Probably, he would have decided on his own,” he added.
Ashwin’s father has been a pillar of support in the off-spinner’s career. A fast bowler at club-level cricket, Ravichandran encouraged his son to take up the sport. Ashwin’s father backed him when the Tamil Nadu cricketer made the switch from a batter to an off-spinner in a bid to break into the state’s Ranji Trophy team as a teenager.
MIXED EMOTIONS FOR ASHWIN’S FATHER
Ravichandran said he had come to terms with his son’s decision but admitted that he wished Ashwin had continued playing for the senior national team.
“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,” he said.
Ashwin chose not to stay with the rest f the squad for the last two Tests of the crucial series. Melbourne will host the Boxing Day Test and Sydney will host the New Year’s Test. Both the iconic venues offer more assistance to spin than other pitches Down Under.
Notably, legendary Sunil Gavaskar had criticised the timing of Ashwin’s retirement and said Washington Sundar’s emergence might have influenced the off-spinner’s mid-series retirement.
India picked Sundar ahead of R Ashwin for the first Test of the series in Perth. Ashwin returned to play the pink-ball Test in Adelaide. However, the veteran off-spinner was dropped for the third Test in Brisbane and Ravindra Jadeja took his spot in the XI.
Ashwin has been consistently left out of the XI in overseas Tests, especially in England and Australia. Jadeja was preferred as the lone spinner in the XI because of his better ability with the bat.
