R Ashwin retired from international cricket after taking 765 wickets.
Legendary Indian cricketer Erapalli Prasanna had called R Ashwin’s international retirement a sad day for Indian cricket. He also accused the Indian team of not treating Ashwin well, who announced his retirement after the third BGT 2024 Test in Australia.
Ashwin took 765 wickets for India including 537 Test, 116 ODI, and 72 T20I wickets to his name. He was part of the 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy-winning Indian teams as well.
“What an incredible bowler he is. He is right up there with the greatest spinners of all time. You should also account for the chances he didn’t get when the team was traveling abroad. I don’t think they treated him well because he was actually very good even when he was playing away," Prasanna told Deccan Herald.
He has the second-most fifers in Tests after Muttiah Muralitharan. Ashwin also has the most Player of the Series awards (11) in men's Tests.
“I think these factors played a part in him quitting. It’s a sad day for Indian cricket,” he added.
Prasanna, who took 189 wickets in 49 Tests, claimed Ashwin's departure will leave a "massive void" and that no one can replicate what the off-spinner did for India in the game's longest format.
“I am very proud of him, and I admire him for taking spin to such a high level. Frankly, I doubt anyone can emulate him, he’s so unique. This really is a big concern for India at the moment. Ashwin’s absence is a massive void because he is the guy who gave you middle-over management. That, to me, is imperative in winning Tests. Middle-over management is that time between lunch and tea on the opening day when you’re bowling first. Typically, that phase will give you an indication of where the match is headed. Ashwin was spectacular in that period," he added.
It has been stated R Ashwin wanted to quit after the Perth Test in Australia after Washington Sundar was preferred instead of him. Ashwin played one Test in Adelaide with the pink ball and was replaced by Ravindra Jadeja for the Brisbane Test.
Speaking about Sundar, Prasanna said, "I don’t mean to disrespect Washington (Sundar), but there are a lot of off-spinners who can do what he does - flat, fast, not really spin, more so seam up. No one can do what Ashwin did, and I don’t think we will be able to fill that void for a very long time."
R Ashwin will continue to play in domestic cricket and will also play for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) from the 2025 season.