Ravichandran Ashwin says the first clear sign that his Test career was ending came in Australia. It was when India picked Washington Sundar ahead of him for the Perth Test. Speaking at an event in Kolkata on Tuesday, Ashwin described that call as the moment he knew his time was up.
“At Perth, I was the senior bowler. Washi played that Test, and I realised that my time was up,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin Test retirement and the selection that changed everything
Ashwin explained that losing his place in the XI during the 2024 Australia tour forced him to confront reality. Sundar was younger and had less experience at that level. Yet the team preferred him.
For Ashwin, that choice made the direction obvious. He later retired at the end of the series.
A decision that triggered criticism of India’s management
Ashwin’s retirement after the Brisbane Test drew criticism from parts of the fan base. The backlash grew louder after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli also stepped away following the series.
In the noise online, head coach Gautam Gambhir was targeted. Some posts suggested senior players were pushed toward retirement. Ashwin rejected that narrative.
Ashwin backs Gautam Gambhir’s team-first approach
Ashwin said he respects Gambhir’s outlook, even if it divides opinion.
“I like Gautam, and many people may have different opinions about him, but he is someone who always puts the team ahead of individuals,” Ashwin said.
He added that Gambhir focuses on collective credit rather than singling out stars. That, Ashwin said, is what he admires.
“There is more to Indian cricket than a couple of people”
Ashwin also spoke about the dressing-room culture and the need to look beyond individual names.
“There is more to Indian cricket than just a couple of people,” he said.
It was a pointed message at a time when India’s red-ball story is often framed around a handful of big personalities.
What Ashwin said about Rohit, Kohli and the group dynamic
Ashwin reflected on his long association with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He said the group’s strength was how they handled pressure together.
“The best part about us was that none of us blamed each other,” Ashwin said. “We all wanted India to win and make the country proud.”
Concerns during India’s Test transition
Ashwin believes India are now in a transition phase. He noted that playing spin remains a challenge. Spin is bowling that uses heavy rotation to make the ball deviate after pitching.
Still, he sounded confident about India continuing to produce batters. His bigger concern was the bowling unit’s overall impact.
“Bowling is not as effective as batting, and that’s where the concern lies,” he said.
Ashwin ended his Test career with more than 500 wickets. But his comments in Kolkata were less about a farewell and more about change. He framed his exit as part of a wider shift, while defending a team-first mindset he says Gambhir represents.