Anil Kumble blasts Indian Team Management after Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement

Former India spinner Anil Kumble has lambasted the team management over Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement midway through the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25. Anil Kumble said that Ravichandran Ashwin should have played in every match outside India, describing him as a match-winner.

Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test of the five-match series, which ended in a draw at the Gabba in Brisbane. The 38-year-old had not played in the third Test. Notably, he had missed the first Test in Perth before returning to the playing XI in the second Test in Adelaide.

Ravichandran Ashwin Is a Matchwinner - Anil Kumble

In an article for Sportstar, Anil Kumble said that India did not make the most of Ravichandran Ashwin's skills during his time with the team. Kumble said that Ashwin has consistently excelled throughout his career, noting that his commitment has been evident for 14 to 15 years.

“Ravichandran Ashwin is a matchwinner. He is a thorough professional who has excelled throughout his career. Every time you watch him bowl, you can see that he wants to get better and is trying to outwit the batter in any circumstance. You want to see that in any cricketer, and he’s done that for 14–15 years," wrote Kumble in his piece for Sportstar.

Team Management Did Not Consistently Select Ashwin to Play in SENA - Anil Kumble

The cricketer-turned-commentator said that the Indian team management did not fully utilize Ashwin in overseas conditions. Kumble stated that Ashwin had consistently taken wickets on all types of surfaces. He also rejected the idea of Ashwin being limited to just a 'spinner' in subcontinental conditions.

“Unfortunately, the team management did not consistently select Ashwin to play in England, South Africa, and Australia, which has always perplexed me. With Ravindra Jadeja bowling in tandem, India could have had these two in every match. Ashwin has consistently picked wickets on every surface he has played on. So to typecast him as a spinner, mostly in subcontinent conditions, is not fair."

Ravichandran Ashwin Deserves a Grand Farewell - Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble expressed disappointment over the lack of a fitting farewell for Ravichandran Ashwin. Kumble said that the off-spinner deserved a grand send-off after his long and distinguished career. He noted that many cricketers in the past also missed out on such farewells.

“Players who have contributed for such a long period deserve a grand farewell. They need to be sat down and offered an appropriate plan on how you want them to leave the game. I was very disappointed with the way Ashwin left," Kumble wrote.

“Many cricketers in the past missed out on a farewell, too. The kind of benchmarks he has set won’t be easy for anyone to live up to. He served Indian cricket with distinction."

Ravichandran Ashwin took 537 wickets in 106 Test matches at an average of 24. He is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests, behind only Anil Kumble (619). Ashwin is also the seventh among wicket-takers in the world. He made his debut in 2011 and then became the best spinner for the team.

The Tamil Nadu-born off-spinner played a crucial role in India's unbeaten home streak from 2012 to 2024. He was also part of the team’s back-to-back series wins over Australia in their own backyard. Apart from his bowling performance, the right-handed batter scored 3,000 runs in Tests, including six centuries.

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