The decision of R Ashwin to retire from international cricket during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy has shocked the cricketing world. Now his father Ravichandran has dropped a bombshell allegation stating that consistent humiliation played a significant role in his son’s sudden decision to announce retirement.
Speaking to the media persons, the father of the Indian all-rounder, Ravichandran said that the family was shocked by the timing of Ashwin’s announcement.
He said, “Retiring is his wish and desire; I cannot interfere in that but the way in which he gave that, there could be many reasons. Only Ashwin knows—maybe humiliation.”
It is pertinent to note that R Ashwin announced his retired mid series, minutes after the third Test between India and Australia concluded on Wednesday, December 18 in Brisbane. His father highlighted the fact that the decision had been really an emotional one for the family.
He added, “No doubt about it; it was an emotional moment for us. He was on the field for 14-15 years, and this sudden change, this retirement, really shocked us.”
Ravichandran strongly felt that Ashwin’s retirement might be related to the fact that he was not getting regular opportunities in overseas tests.
“We were expecting it because humiliation was going on. How long could he tolerate all those things? Probably, he would have decided on his own,” his father further stated.
Ashwin’s father recalls that the boy had a terrible time. A club-level fast bowler himself, Ravichandran supported Ashwin’s decision to switch from batting to off-spin bowling to get a break into Tamil Nadu’s Ranji Trophy team.
According to his father, while R Ashwin consistently made excellent contributions, the frequent exclusions, especially overseas tests, have been something that has troubled him throughout.
Ravichandran admits that though he respects Ashwin’s decision, he wishes his son would have continued representing India. “One part of me was happy, another part not so much because he should have continued,” he said.
R Ashwin has been one of the most debated exclusions from the playing XI. Despite being one of India’s premier off-spinners, he was left out of key overseas tests, such as the third Test in Brisbane, where Ravindra Jadeja took his place.
Deciding to bench Ashwin was heavily criticized by cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar, who felt the coming of Washington Sundar had brought about the retirement of R Ashwin at the wrong time. Ashwin was, in fact, benched for the first Test at Perth and then again for the third Test at Brisbane while he performed well in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide.
Ravichandran’s comments do bring forth the emotional as well as professional struggles that the ace Indian all-rounder was going through. It raises questions as to how the team management of India handled one of the most decorated spinners. As the series continues sans Ashwin, the cricketing world is left wondering what toll humiliation takes on even the best in the game.
