‘Ravichandran Ashwin was not a match winner’: Basit Ali criticises India great’s retirement
New Delhi: R Ashwin, who incredibly cemented his status as one of India’s top all-rounders, has just called it quits from international cricket after the third Test against Australia at GABBA. This legendary Indian cricketer wrapped up his thrilling career having secured a whopping 537 Test scalps, pushing him to the second spot in India’s list of highest wicket-takers in Test cricket and seventh worldwide. His cricket journey was not only about bowling, but also included hitting six tons in Tests, driving him firmly amongst the cricket greats. In the shorter formats, namely ODIs and T20Is, he bagged 156 and 72 wickets respectively. His overall wicket tally in all formats stands at an impressive 765, making him the second-highest wicket taker for India and the 11th globally.
Ex-Pakistani cricket player Basit Ali voiced some apprehensions regarding Ashwin’s decision to retire and its timing. He proposed that Ashwin’s retirement would have made more sense after the domestic series against New Zealand, but if Ashwin opted to be part of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Ali feels that he ought to have stayed till the last Test match wrapped up. Also, he commented that encouragement from Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir could have nudged Ashwin to play the fifth Test in Sydney.
“Do you know when Ashwin should have taken retirement? Either he should have taken retirement after Sundar was called for the second Test match against New Zealand. Or he should have taken retirement after these five Test matches. After three Tests, it was a bad decision. Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir should have convinced Ashwin to wait till the 5th Test. He should have been told you are needed in two Test matches and you will obviously be needed in Sydney,” he said on his YouTube channel.
Ali praised Ashwin, highlighting his exceptional legacy and vital contributions to the Indian cricket team. He emphasized that the 38-year-old is more than just a player who turns the tide of a single match – he’s a stellar performer who carries entire series for his country.