[ValarMorghulis]

While I'm definitely saddened by Ashwin's retirement, it kinda makes sense if you look at the team's itinerary.

Ashwin has effectively been sidelined from the ODIs and T20s. The only format where is a sure shot selection is test matches, at home. And the next test match at home is a long long time away.

Fare-thee-well Ash. Your leave of the wide against Pak in MCG T20 WC 2022 will be an all-time viewership hit
You are a certifiable legend of the game. Hats off.

Originally Posted by AtheK

I think they should give Kuldeep a long rope now, he genuinely spins the ball and has had to sit out as Ashwin and Jadeja were always the first two to be considered in India...

Kuldeep is just not that effective in Tests.

[Vinod_nair]

We'll never hear again Pant's wild cry from behind the stumps of "WELL BOWLED ASH".

A graceful retirement of a great sportsman. Unlike Sharma and Kohli, he'll never hold the Red Cherry on the field.

All the best.

[AtheK]

Originally Posted by ValarMorghulis

Kuldeep is just not that effective in Tests.

56 wickets in 13 matches with four 5 Wicket match and three 4 wicket match, I guess he definitely deserves a chance and a long one on that. His economy at 3.55 needs to be a little low. He is a genuine wicket taker, going forward he should be in starting list at least in India, specially where ball is spinning and we are not as effective any more with our finger spinners.

[searacer932]

Originally Posted by Prof87

If they had set 200 target, Rohit and Jaiswal would have opened and gone all guns blazing as they did against Bangladesh last time. Aussies played smart and made sure they have a good target wherein they also hold a chance to win the game if rain did not interrupt. 50 0vers 275 target would be anybody's game but rain has played spoilsport now.

But how many runs India scored in 4th innings? 8 runs in 2 overs or so. Even if they had set India 200 runs, the game would not have been on as India wouldn't have batted beyond 20 overs before the thunder storms. Australia missed a trick by going on to play till they scored 440 odd runs. They should have declared around 350 if they wanted to dangle a carrot to India as someone said. I am not saying what Cummins did was wrong but I don't agree with someone saying that Aussies were keeping test cricket alive via this test match. This is over the top comment.

And by the way every weather station was predicting heavy runs through out the course of the test match. This was just a typical captaincy and nothing Baz'-ball about this :-)

[Emvi]

Ashwin has had a stellar career and is undoubtedly one of the legends of the game. For me, it is a bit disappointing to see him retire the way he has today. It would have been more fitting for a legend like him to end his career with a match-winning performance, and at the very least, end up on the winning side. He truly deserved it. He had one really bad series against New Zealand at home, and if that hadn't hurt him the most, Sundar playing ahead of him in the first Test was probably the catalyst behind his decision.

To true his name, "ashWIN", the winner will surely be missed by the team and fans alike.

[ValarMorghulis]

Originally Posted by searacer932

....Australia missed a trick by going on to play till they scored 440 odd runs. They should have declared around 350 if they wanted to dangle a carrot to India as someone said. I am not saying what Cummins did was wrong but I don't agree with someone saying that Aussies were keeping test cricket alive via this test match. This is over the top comment...

Aussies are never about keeping the test spirit alive etc. etc. BS.
They are just about one thing: Winning.

So, to think that they would have risked a defeat against India, at home, to keep the 'spirit of tests' alive is pure nincompoopery, to say the least.

They aren't like England to go for fancy terms (Bazball), fool hardy declarations, "don't care about WTC" nonsense. They are first and foremost about winning. Everything else is secondary.

Originally Posted by searacer932

.....I don't agree with someone saying that Aussies were keeping test cricket alive via this test match. This is over the top comment...

You and me both sir

[Eddy]

I still can't digest this retirement.

Someone as smart as Ashwin retiring mid-tour when there is a test to be played in Sydney - something is wrong. I think he was told clearly that Sundar will play ahead of him there. But what if there is a last minute injury? I think it was Ashwin's duty to finish the tour. Not a big fan of mid tour retirements, and that too in the toughest of conditions.

[narayans80]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I still can't digest this retirement.

He already is not part of the T20 or ODI plans and at 38, he wouldn't be part of the WTC 2025-27 either. IIRC he didn't play the WTC finals in 2023 either.

That rescue innings from Jaddu has made sure Ashwin would not be picked for the next 2 tests even if he didn't make the retirement call.

Good for him that he made the call before he got dropped out of the squad.

[searacer932]

I would go with the following 11 for the Melbourne test and in the following order.

1. Jaiswal
2. KL Rahul
3. Rohit Sharma
4. Virat Kohli
5. Jurel (Jurel replaces Gill and plays down the order)
6. Pant
7. Nitish
8. Jadeja
9. Akash
10. Bumrah
11. Siraj

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Eddy

I still can't digest this retirement.

I know we are speculating, but something does not add up for sure. Why did he travel in the first place if he was having knee problems and niggles? This mid tour retirement has caused the team to have one option less in the bowling department unless a replacement is chosen and sent right away. If Ashwin is not being considered for the remaining 2 tests, it also gives away that information to the world in advance and the Aussies are masters at using these things in their favour (planning ahead).

[sharkashwa]

Don't have much more to add than what has already been said about Ashwin's retirement. One of the greats of the game has retired and will not be putting on the Indian Jersey anymore. Have grown up watching him since his debut and has gotten me a bit emotional. Would like to leave this clip here that I found on Youtube -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvfnHqjQReo

[deehunk]

We have never given a farewell to our bowling legends; Kapil too quit midway, Harbhajan was isolated, and Anil Kumble quit midway during Dhoni's reign, though he was fit enough to play at least a year; now Ashwin. On the other hand, we see Rohit and Virat playing single-digit lotteries with no shame.

[Scarlet_Rider]

Harsha Bhogle's tribute to Ashwin.

https://youtu.be/DcSHUNHnsB8?si=fOn6DPtB_x_a2biA

[avingodb]

Originally Posted by deehunk

Anil Kumble quit midway during Dhoni's reign

Kumble was injured in his last game and he was also the captain of the side at that point.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...diacricketteam


https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/...full-scorecard

[deehunk]

Originally Posted by avingodb

Kumble was injured in his last game and he was also the captain of the side at that point.

He was told to quit; BCCI has never treated our bowlers at par with our batsmen.