'Just decided in Perth itself' - Ravichandran Ashwin reveals Gautam Gambhir asked him to continue before retirement

Ravichandran Ashwin ended his Test career during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, stepping away from international cricket after initially planning to retire at home. The off-spinner featured in India's home Test series against Bangladesh before ultimately deciding to hang up his boots in Perth, where he realised his playing days had concluded.

Ashwin's thoughts about retirement had begun forming during India's home Test series against England in 2024. Following a disappointing home series against New Zealand, he consulted head coach Gautam Gambhir about his future in the sport. The conversation marked a turning point in his decision-making process. Ashwin explained the circumstances that shaped his thinking about when to step away from the game.

"I was thinking during that England series about till when I should continue playing. If you have a standard and you know it is getting difficult to maintain that, not because of your head, but because of your body, it is very deflating. I took injections, and then the New Zealand series turned out to be very disappointing. I felt I could not win the series for my team, and we could not come back either," Ashwin said on Aakash Chopra's YouTube channel.

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How did Gambhir influence Ashwin's decision?

Gambhir encouraged Ashwin to play through India's home season despite the off-spinner's reservations about continuing. Ashwin contemplated ending his career at Chepauk during the Bangladesh series, yet the decision remained unresolved. The situation evolved differently once the squad travelled to Australia. Ashwin reflected on how the final decision crystallised during the Australian leg of the tour.

"I spoke to Gautam as well, and he told me to play the home season at least. Against Bangladesh, I thought, can I just end it at Chepauk? But it just kept dragging. Then I felt it was done and just decided in Perth itself," said Ashwin.

Why did Ashwin finally decide in Perth?

During the Perth Test, Ashwin occupied the role of senior bowler in the squad while Washington Sundar received selection for that match. The realisation that his time in international cricket had ended became clear to Ashwin at that juncture. He announced his retirement following the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Brisbane.

Ashwin finished his Test career as India's second-highest wicket-taker with 537 scalps across 106 Tests, accumulating 3503 runs in the format. He was part of India's ODI World Cup-winning squad in 2011 and the Champions Trophy-winning team in 2013. Virat Kohli embraced Ashwin in the dressing room during the tea break on the final day of the Brisbane Test, while Ravindra Jadeja replaced him in the playing XI for that match.