Why Did R Ashwin Refuse a Farewell Test Despite the Opportunity?

India’s legendary bowler Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired from international cricket on December 18, 2024, after the drawn Gabba Test against Australia, has revealed why he declined a farewell game. Ashwin, who has 765 international wickets across formats, stated that he didn’t want to be in the team solely for a farewell match. His decision to retire in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy surprised fans, as he had played just one game in the series – the second Test in Adelaide, where he picked up one wicket and scored 29 runs. He said:

I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room but from somewhere else. I want to be honest with the game. Imagine if I want to play the farewell Test but I do not deserve a place. Imagine, I am only in the team because it is my farewell Test. I don’t want that. I felt there was more strength in my cricket. I could have played more but it is always better to finish when people ask “why” and not “why not”, I think a lot. What to do in life. You all need to understand, that this happens instinctively. If someone gets to know, that their job is done, once that thinking comes, there is nothing to think. People said a lot of things. I don’t think it is a big deal. You think what happened. I did not play the first Test. I played the second did not play the third. It was possible I could play the next or not play the next. This is a side of my creativity and I was looking to explore it. At that time, I felt my creativity was over so it was over. It was simple.

Ashwin explained that his decision was instinctive, driven by his desire to remain honest with the game. He felt it was better to leave when people questioned “why” rather than “why not.” The 38-year-old spinner also expressed his wish to explore creativity beyond international cricket, believing it had reached its limit on the big stage. Rejecting the need for a farewell, Ashwin highlighted that cricket had already given him immense joy and satisfaction. Social media buzz or clapping crowds, he argued, wouldn’t add value to his career legacy, which he ended with grace and self-awareness.