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According to a report, R Ashwin’s retirement may just be the beginning of many, and in the coming times, many Indian stars could call time on their careers.
Indian team is set to undergo major transition. (Picture Credit: PTI)
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on Wednesday, December 18. The 38-year-old cricketer from Chennai played in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is for India since making his debut against Sri Lanka in Harare on June 5, 2010, and finished his career as the second leading wicket-taker (765) for Team India in international cricket. Ashwin’s decision to retire in the middle of the Test series in Australia came as a surprise for fans around the globe.
But according to a report in Cricbuzz, Ashwin’s retirement could just be the beginning of many. It has been reported that the Indian team is set to undergo a major transition, and many top players could call time on their Test careers.
“How much of this decision (Ashwin’s retirement) is planned, voluntary, or subtly influenced is difficult to determine, but the Indian team is expected to undergo a transformation soon—possibly by the start of their next Test series in England in the coming summer of 2025. As in the past, the credit or discredit will likely be linked to the Test series in Australia. Over the years, Australia tours have gained a notorious reputation for bringing cricketing careers to an agonising end,” the report read.
The ongoing five-match Test series in Australia is India’s last assignment in the 2023-25 edition of the World Test Championship. If India fails to qualify for the final, which is scheduled to take place at Lord’s in June 2025, many senior players could be axed from the squad.
“It is unlikely that anyone would openly admit it was a nudge, but there is a perception that this announcement is just the first in a series expected to follow—much like in 2008, when several senior players retired in quick succession. The signals, whether conveyed directly or indirectly, seem to have been sent, setting the stage for a transition,” the report added.
Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yadav are among Indian players who haven’t played for Team India for quite some time now and are yet to announce retirement from Test cricket, and there’s a possibility that if India fail to qualify for the WTC 2025 final, then the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja could also face the axe.
