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Ravichandran Ashwin delivered his farewell speech while his teammates stacked up at one corner of the room, emotional and quiet, listening to him.
Indian players get emotional as Ashwin delivers his farewell speech
Emotions were galore in the Indian dressing room when Ravichandran Ashwin walked in for the one last time on Wednesday. After the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy ended in a draw in Brisbane, the veteran off-spinner took the cricketing world by surprise. Alongside Rohit Sharma, Ashwin attended the post-match press conference where he announced his unexpected retirement.
On his way back to the change room, Ashwin was congratulated by every person passing by. Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins gifted him an autographed Australian jersey, wishing him luck for the future. The Indian players welcomed the legendary tweaker with a huge round of applause while Yashasvi Jaiswal said, “I’m still unable to realise [that you are retiring].”
Ashwin then delivered his farewell speech while his teammates stacked up at one corner of the room, emotional and quiet, listening to him.
“Don’t know how to go about this. It’s easier to speak in a team huddle,” Ashwin said.
“Even though I’m not exhibiting it but it’s truly an emotional moment for me. Feels like it’s 2011-12 when I made my first Australia tour. I saw the transition then, when Rahul Bhai, Sachin Paji left. But everybody’s time comes, and today it was mine.
“I thoroughly enjoyed it, built some great relationships and friendships over the last four-five years notably. I’m leaving some of my teammates who have been playing with me dearly. Every passing year in the last four-five years I have felt how much more I have valued their relationship and them as a player,” he added.
The veteran of 104 Tests, Ashwin said he will keep following his teammates in the rest of the two Tests – in Melbourne and Sydney. He even said that he is ‘just a call away’ if anyone ever needs anything from him.
“I’ll be taking a flight back home but I will be tuned in to watch how well you guys go in Melbourne. The international cricketer in me might have come to an end but the cricket in me will never [end]. I will be looking forward to each one of your performances. All the very best. If at all you guys need anything, I’m a call away.
“Thanks Rohit, thanks Virat, thanks Gauti Bhai… I’m so happy today,” Ashwin concluded.
Ashwin, one of the greatest cricketers to have represented India, draws curtains on his career having taken 765 wickets across formats. He played his first Test against the West Indies in November 2011 and went on to become one of the all-time greats. He finishes his Test career with 449 wickets from 106 Tests at an average of 24. He took 37 five-wicket hauls and eight times finished with 10 wickets in a Test.
- Location :
Brisbane, Australia
