BGT 2024: “It leaves you one short,” Sunil Gavaskar criticizes timing of R Ashwin’s retirement decision

Ashwin retired from international cricket with immediate effect after the end of the Gabba Test.

Batting Sunil Gavaskar has criticized the timing of Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement call, stating that the veteran off-spinner should have made the decision after the end of the ongoing Australia Test tour.

Ashwin shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement from the international arena with immediate effect on Wednesday (December 18).

The 38-year-old confirmed his decision while addressing the press conference alongside skipper Rohit Sharma after the end of the Gabba Test, which ended in a draw.

Speaking to the broadcasters, Gavaskar said that the shock call had now left the Indian squad one man short. He feels that Ashwin could have had a chance to make it to the side during the fifth Test in Sydney, where the pitch is likely to offer assistance to spinners.

"He could have said, listen after the end of the series, 'I won't be available for selection for India'. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the 3rd Test in 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short. The selection committee has picked so many players for a tour with a purpose. If there are any injuries they can select from the reserve players to have in the team. So, Sydney is somewhere where there is a lot of support on offer for spinners. So India could have played with 2 spinners. You never know. He could have been there for sure. I don't know how the pitch in Melbourne will be like."

"Normally, you tend to look at the end of the series. That's it. In the middle, it is not usual," said Gavaskar.

Ashwin was not part of India's playing XI at the Gabba. He was also left out of the line-up for the series opener in Perth but played in the second Test at the Adelaide Oval, where he claimed one wicket and scored 29 runs across two innings.

When asked if Washington Sundar was ahead of Ashwin in the pecking order, Gavaskar said that could be the case. He also hailed Ashwin as a fine cricketer.

"Maybe Washington Sundar is ahead of him. Rohit said he is flying out tomorrow. So that's the end of Ashwin as an international cricketer. He has been one heck of a cricketer," Gavaskar remarked.

Ashwin represented his country in 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is, picking up 765 wickets across all formats. He finished his career as India's second highest wicket-taker in Test cricket with 537 scalps to his name.