Gautam Gambhir labelled the villain behind Ravichandran Ashwin's shock retirement

Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from international cricket after the third Test between Australia and India at Gabba. It is a huge development in Indian cricket as Ashwin has been one of the pillars of the team in the Test format.

Ravichandran Ashwin played the second Test of the series in Adelaide, which was a day-night game. He was dropped for the next Test at Gabba and was replaced by Ravindra Jadeja. It was an emotional decision from the ace offspinner to make an international retirement.

The social media was poured with congratulatory and emotional messages for Ashwin after the end of his illustrious career. It showed the amount of love and respect that Ashwin gained over the years.

Also read: Ravichandran Ashwin stuns cricket world with shock retirement after Brisbane Test

Twitter pays tribute to Ravichandran Ashwin after international retirement

RAVI ASHWIN HAS ANNOUNCED HIS RETIREMENT FROM TEST CRICKET. 🥹

- Thank you for everything, Ash. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/hG3mlLW3rn

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 18, 2024

- 537 wickets in Tests.
- 156 wickets in ODIs.
- 72 wickets in T20I.

ONE OF THE GREATEST EVER, ASHWIN 🐐 pic.twitter.com/kp72t11huO

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 18, 2024

- Highest wicket taker for India after Anil Kumble
- No. 1 test all rounder for many years
- Currently at no. 3 in All rounders and at no. 5 in Bowlers ICC test ranking
Ashwin GOAT All- rounder for India announced Retirement🙌🏼
Didn't get a farewell match 💔 #INDvAUS #Ashwin pic.twitter.com/mtAjTO0vUT

— Dr Artistic Soul (@dr_artisticsoul) December 18, 2024

Happy Retirement, Ravi Ashwin! The streets will never forget how you single handedly helped us win against Pakistan.❤️ pic.twitter.com/tVHTc3dwis

— 𝐉𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐞 (@jod_insane) December 18, 2024

Ravi Ashwin should have played one farewell game at least. He has earned it. pic.twitter.com/5KFerzITYE

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) December 18, 2024

Leave Test Cricket at high even before anyone asks for it.
Take a bow, Ashwin Anna 🙇‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/3iTqEknGLE

— Dinda Academy (@academy_dinda) December 18, 2024

R. Ashwin retires from International cricket.

- Fastest Bowler to 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 Test Wickets

- 37 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, only behind Muttiah Muralitharan & Shane Warne

You did well. Farewell @ashwinravi99 🏅 pic.twitter.com/R0av4fyyhG

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) December 18, 2024

R. Ashwin retires from International cricket.

- Fastest Bowler to 250, 300, 350, 400, 450 and 500 Test Wickets

- 37 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, only behind Muttiah Muralitharan & Shane Warne

You did well. Farewell @ashwinravi99 🏅 pic.twitter.com/R0av4fyyhG

— Trendulkar (@Trendulkar) December 18, 2024

Eyes speak what words cannot. #Ashwin pic.twitter.com/BAIxqLkyNV

— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) December 18, 2024

2010 - 2024
An Illustrious international career that's etched in the history of Cricket!
Thank you, Ashwin! 👑 #99Forever #WhistlePodu 🇮🇳

pic.twitter.com/e5z8QsFzov

— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 18, 2024

In 2014 Australian tour - Dhoni retired.

In 2024 Australian tour - Ashwin retired. pic.twitter.com/riat5OyjQk

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 18, 2024

THE RAVI-CHANDRAN AND RAVI-NDRAN DUO SEPERATED. 💔

- Ashwin and Jadeja, won't pair together again for India. 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/T3i75kfYq8

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 18, 2024

Ashwin said that if my services aren’t needed then rather than sitting in dressing room i should spend my time sitting in home
Rohit Sharma indirectly confirming that Ravichandran Ashwin retire due to Gautam Gambhir

— THANOS (@VariantOfThanos) December 18, 2024

My take is Ashwin's decision is mostly to do with Gambhir.
Ever since he moved to CSK, he knows his chances are less to join the playing 11..

— GeeDee🍥 (@alert6mugam) December 18, 2024

Ashwin wouldnt have taken this decision midway unless Gambhir & Vadapav forced him to.

Damn suspicious, more so bc Ash wld be handful on the MCG pitch.#INDvAUS #AUSvsIND

— Plex (@get_sp) December 18, 2024

Gambhir's political mind forced Ashwin to Take retirement to divert the topic and to hide his Failure as a head coach. pic.twitter.com/e2TBjHHbSs

— MAHIYANK™ (@Mahiyank_78) December 18, 2024

gambhir is the villian behind ashwin's retirement

— palak (@loftedovercover) December 18, 2024

Ravichandran Ashwin's records

Ravichandran Ashwin played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is in his international career. Despite playing all the formats, his best always came in Test cricket. He was India's go-to man in the red-ball format and delivered when the team needed him to.

Ravichandran Ashwin finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket after Anil Kumble and the bowler with the most five-wicket hauls for India. He is also the fastest man to 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, and 500 Test wickets. He finishes as the seventh-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket.

He finished with 537 wickets at a brilliant average of 24. His home record is exceptional as he grabbed 383 wickets in 65 Tests at an average of 21.57.

End of Ashwin-Jadeja combination

This also brings an end to the wonderful spin bowling combination of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in international cricket. The duo won India numerous games and helped the team achieve various milestones, especially in Test cricket.

Ashwin and Jadeja combined for more than 800 Test wickets in their Test career. The careers of both these players went together and they achieved unprecedented success for India.

They will now be in action together for Chennai Super Kings in the upcoming season of IPL. While Jadeja was retained by CSK this year, Ashwin was signed for INR 9.75 crore.