'End of an era': Fans get emotional as Ravichandran Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket
Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket after a 14-year career, stating he would continue playing club cricket. His departure sparked a wave of tributes and nostalgia on social media, with fans calling for a grand farewell match at Chepauk Stadium.
Ravichandran Ashwin's unexpected retirement from international cricket devastated hearts on social media, with supporters remembering one of India's finest off-spinners. Fans praised the cricketer's flawless 14-year career on social media, posting videos, images, and personal tributes to him.
A video of the team's final send-off to Ashwin has gone viral. The player passed by as his colleagues congratulated him, pausing briefly to hug skipper Rohit Sharma.
Ashwin announces retirement from international cricket
Your passion for the game will be missed, but your legacy lives on. Thank you for the memories and unforgettable performances. Thank you Ash Anna ?#INDvAUS #Ashwin #IndvsAus #Goat pic.twitter.com/LAXGmbQCnI
¡ª Dhulendra Raika (@dhulendraraika) December 18, 2024
¡°This will be my last year as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I feel there¡¯s a little bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I¡¯d like to express that, showcase that in club-level cricket,¡± he said in a post-match press conference after India¡¯s fourth Test match against Australia.
After announcing his retirement from international cricket, the iconic spinner became a top Google trend, with fans and cricket aficionados flocking to the search engine to discover more about his choice. The announcement caused an increase in online discussions, with individuals reflecting on his successful career. On Wednesday afternoon, Google received more than two lakh searches.
Speculation about Ashwin's retirement began before his announcement when cameras caught him having a passionate talk with Virat Kohli while the bowlers waited for rain.
The two were spotted hugging afterwards, and Kohli wrapped his arm over Ashwin as they sat. Ashwin rose to prominence in 2011, contributing significantly to India's World Cup victory.
????
¡ª Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 18, 2024
Emotional moments from the Indian dressing room ?#AUSvINDOnStar #BorderGavaskarTrophy #Ashwin #ViratKohli pic.twitter.com/92a4NqNsyP
Throughout his career, he has taken 775 wickets across forms. With 537 Test wickets, he is second only to Anil Kumble, who has 619 for India. The spinner will compete in the IPL 2025 for the Chennai Super Kings.
Fans get emotional
Fans also wanted a farewell Test match for the player, claiming he deserved a magnificent send-off like Sachin Tendulkar. "Ash Anna deserves farewell like Sachin Tendulkar at Chepauk stadium," according to one of them.
Some admirers reacted to the news with lighthearted memes.
*After seeing #Ashwin retirement today instead of Virat and Rohit *
¡ª UmdarTamker (@UmdarTamker) December 18, 2024
Indian cricket fans : #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/vdJYktOhW2
Happy Retirement #Ashwin Anna ????? pic.twitter.com/NAgPcZhsD8
¡ª Aman_Chain ?? (@Amanprabhat9) December 18, 2024
Ravi Ashwin retires from Test cricket. Thank you for the memories, Ash! ??#Ashwin pic.twitter.com/Q8nd9BYfM3
¡ª Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) December 18, 2024
Right now Jos Butler:#Ashwin #retirement #mankand pic.twitter.com/WARgTskR4g
¡ª nilesh (@nilesh210119) December 18, 2024
Everyone is sad because #Ashwin retired.
¡ª Investment India ? (@Invest_books_IN) December 18, 2024
Everyone is sad because #RohitSharma and #ViratKohli are not retiring.#INDvAUS #GabbaTest pic.twitter.com/9bQnVpxroQ
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