Speculations of Ashwin's Instant Retirement Triggered by Ex-Australia Cricketers

Former Australian cricketers Brett Lee and Brad Haddin shared their thoughts on Ravichandran Ashwin's unexpected retirement during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, following the Brisbane Test. Ashwin's decision surprised many, as few anticipated that he would step away from international cricket in the midst of an ongoing series that was tied at 1-1, with two matches still to be played.

The veteran spinner missed out on playing XIs of the Perth and Brisbane Tests, while there wasn't much on offer from the surface for a spinner when he got the chance at Adelaide. He claimed one wicket on his last Test of a glorious career, and Mitchell Marsh became his final victim in international cricket.

The former Aussie players started playing the speculation game on Ashwin's retirement. Lee suggested that the ace spinner may been told by the Indian management that he wouldn't be in contention to get a chance in the remaining two Tests, which led Ashwin to take the retirement call.

“I think the last time a spinner retired through a series (in Australia) was Graeme Swann. He may have been told that he’s not going to play any further part in this series, and rightly so, (he) just decided to go out on his own terms,” said Lee on Fox Cricket.

Ashwin was one of the strongest pillars of India's domination in red-ball cricket over the past decade. He finished his Test legacy with 537 wickets from 106 matches, which is the second highest by an Indian bowler behind Anil Kumble's 619. The New Zealand series, at home this year, was one of the lowest points in Ashwin's career when he ended with nine wickets from three games, with two played on tailor-made surfaces in Pune and Mumbai.

Haddin, former Aussie wicketkeeper, lavished praise on Ashwin, but he also feels that the spinner would open up more on his retirement decision in the coming days.

“More will come out when Ashwin has his opportunity to speak; just reading between the lines, it looked like he may have been a bit frustrated with the spinning options that they’ve changed in the first three Test matches. To me, he was a student of the game (and) always looking at ways to get better … he’s earned the right,” Haddin told Fox Cricket after the end of the Test match.