NEW DELHI: In a shocking revelation, off-spinner Ashwin’s father Ravichandran on Thursday claimed that one of the reasons behind his son’s sudden retirement from international cricket was the ‘humiliation’ he faced in the team.
According to Ravichandran, Ashwin’s retirement came as a shock to the family as he felt his son should have continued playing cricket at the highest level.
But the regular omissions from playing XI forced Ashwin to quit as it must have felt like humiliation.
“I too came to know last minute, actually,” CNN News18 quoted Ravichandran as saying.
“What was going on in his mind I don’t know. He just announced. I too accepted it with full pleasure. I didn’t have any feeling at all for that. But the way he gave his retirement, one part I was very happy, another part not happy because he should have continued.
“(Retiring) is his (Ashwin’s) 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,” he said.
“Definitely, no doubt about it (being emotional for the family), because he was on the field for 14-15 years. The sudden change – retirement – gave us really kind of a shock. At the same time, we were expecting it because humiliation was going on. How long can he tolerate all those things? Probably, he would have decided on his own,” Ravichandran said.
A day after announcing his retirement, Ashwin made a quiet early-morning return to the country in Chennai.
Ashwin signed off as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games, placing him only behind the great Anil Kumble (619 wickets) in the overall statistics.
He took more wickets against Australia than any other country, with 115 at 28.58 in 23 Tests against them.
The 38-year-old spinner played the second Test in Adelaide but was then left out of the third Test in Brisbane, with Ravindra Jadeja taking his spot.
Ashwin however will continue to play club cricket, including the IPL, where he will return to play for Chennai Super Kings next year.