New Delhi [India], December 17 : India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir, along with former cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, extended heartfelt congratulations to Ravichandran Ashwin as he bid farewell to his illustrious international cricket career.
Spanning over two decades, Ashwin’s career was marked by his unmatched dominance in spin bowling, constantly evolving and refining his craft. On Day 5 of the Brisbane Test, Gambhir was present when Ashwin shared a poignant moment with Virat Kohli, hinting at the announcement of his retirement.
“The privilege of seeing you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern cricket is something I wouldn’t trade for the world! I know generations of bowlers to come will say that I became a bowler because of Ashwin! You will be missed, brother,” Gambhir shared on X.
Harbhajan, a fellow spinner, hailed Ashwin as the torchbearer of Indian spin for over a decade. “Congratulations @ashwinravi99 on a phenomenal cricket career. Your ambition as a Test cricketer was admirable. Well done for being the flag bearer of Indian spin for more than a decade. Be very proud of your achievements and hopefully, see you more often now,” he posted on X.
Irfan Pathan, former all-rounder, described Ashwin as an “absolute match-winner” and lauded his remarkable contributions. “Retiring as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket is nothing short of monumental. Combine that with his invaluable batting contributions, and you get one of the game’s solid all-rounders. Well done, Ash!” Pathan wrote on X.
Throughout his career, Ashwin played 106 Tests, collecting 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls, and scored 3,503 runs. His contributions to Indian cricket go far beyond these impressive statistics, establishing him as one of the most influential players in the sport’s history.