You will be missed brother: Gambhir congratulates ‘legend’ R Ashwin on retirement
Gautam Gambhir, Ravi Shastri, and others from the cricket fraternity congratulated R Ashwin after the Indian off-spinner retired from international cricket. On Wednesday, December 18, the veteran called time on his career after serving India for 14 and a half years since making his debut back in June 2010 against Sri Lanka.
Ashwin pulled the curtains down on his career while speaking at a press conference after the end of the third Test against Australia at The Gabba in Brisbane. After Ashwin retired, Gambhir, the current head coach of the Indian team, said that the tweaker would inspire a generation of cricketers in the years to come.
“The privilege of seeing you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern cricket is something that I wouldn’t trade for the world! I know that generations of bowlers to come will say that I became a bowler coz of Ashwin! U will be missed brother!” Gambhir wrote.
Shastri, who served as the head coach from 2017 to 2021, called Ashwin an invaluable asset.
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“Hey Ash, congratulations on a magnificent career, old boy. You were an invaluable asset during my tenure as coach and enriched the game immensely with your skill and craft. God bless,” Shastri added.
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been a part of India’s several memorable wins, said that he enjoyed standing in the slips against Ashwin.
“Congratulations on an incredible journey, @ashwinravi99! Standing at slip was never a dull moment with you bowling, every ball felt like a chance waiting to happen. All the best for your next chapter!” Rahane wrote.
Dinesh Karthik, who retired from Indian cricket earlier this year, wrote, “A GOAT retires. Well done on what’s been an outstanding career. Proud to have played with you and definitely the greatest ever to have played from TAMILNADU.”
Jay Shah, the newly-appointed chairman of the ICC, wrote, “India’s greatest match-winners – a magician with the ball and an astute thinker of the game. An international career to be proud of @ashwinravi99, , wishing you the best for the future.”
Ashwin retired from international cricket as the seventh highest wicket-taker in Test cricket. In 106 Tests, he took 537 wickets at an economy rate of 2.83. In 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, Ashwin accounted for 156 and 72 wickets respectively.
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