WATCH: Virat Kohli gives an emotional hug to Ravichandran Ashwin amidst his retirement decision

Ravichandran Ashwin has scalped 537 wickets in 106 Test matches at an average of 24.01. He also has 156 ODI wickets in 116 matches and 72 wickets in 65 T20I matches.

WATCH: Virat Kohli gives an emotional hug to Ravichandran Ashwin amidst his retirement decision

Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin (Image via Screengrab Star Sports)

Day 5 of the third Test match between Australia and India at the Gabba in Brisbane brought the news that Ravichandran Ashwin, India’s legendary off-spinner, will retire from international cricket from the very moment.

Ashwin himself announced his decision in the post-match press conference. However, the signs and symptoms were known at the very moment when Virat Kohli gave an emotional hug to Ashwin when the Indian players were waiting for play to resume on Day 5.

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Ashwin has scalped 537 wickets in 106 Test matches at an average of 24.01. He also has 156 ODI wickets in 116 matches and 72 wickets in 65 T20I matches.

Ashwin has been the biggest match-winner for the Indian Test team in the last decade or so. He, along with Ravindra Jadeja, had made sure that India did not lose a Test series between 2012 and 2024.

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The Chennai born talent featured in the Indian jersey for the last time in the second Test match of the ongoing series at the Adelaide Oval. Washington Sundar has slowly emerged as his long-term replacement. However, the impact that Ashwin has left in the last decade in the Test team will definitely be remembered for years to come, and he will definitely be missed by the Indian fans.

Ravichandran Ashwin talked about the experience of sharing the dressing room with the other senior players

Ashwin was present at the post-match press conference along with the captain, Rohit Sharma. He stated he has created a lot of memories with Sharma and his other teammates with whom he has played throughout his international career.

Ravichandran Ashwin talked about the experience of sharing the dressing room with the other senior players
Rohit Sharma, Ravichandran Ashwin (Via X)

This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats in the international level. I had a lot of fun. I must say, I created a lot of memories alongside Rohit (Sharma) and several of my other teammates.

Ravichandran Ashwin said at the post-match press conference.

Meanwhile, he was replaced by Jadeja in the third Test match. Jadeja scored 77 crucial runs in his first outing in this tour of Australia and saved the Test match for India.

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Australia tried their level best and batted explosively. They declared the innings at 89/7 in the second innings on Day 5 and set a target of 275 runs for the Indian batters to chase. However, the play was stopped due to bad light, and that was the end of the day. The series is level at 1-1 going into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.