The Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement recently and what has troubled many is the timing of his retirement as he took this decision midway of the BGT 2024-25.
While many from the cricket fraternity wished him luck on his new phase, there were some who gave their opinion on his retirement and majority of them felt that R Ashwin was not getting the respect that he deserved in the dressing room.
The former Pakistani cricketer Rashid Latif has called recently retired Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin a “genius,” even suggesting that he could one day lead the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) or the International Cricket Council (ICC). Ashwin retired on Wednesday as India’s second highest Test wicket-taker but his legacy goes beyond statistics. Tributes to his career have highlighted his ability to innovate, his strategic thinking and his courage to stand by his beliefs, such as supporting non-striker run-outs, even if it drew criticism.
Rashid Latif said, “As a cricketer, as a genius of the game […] there are many cricketers in India, but Ashwin is on a different level. His qualities are of a different level. I believe that in the future, he could take over BCCI or ICC as he’s that capable. He is very humble, and you wouldn’t even realize that he’s such a big cricketer. Best wishes to him from my side, from Pakistan. He’s had an outstanding career. Look at him; as a batter, Ashwin has six [Test] centuries, which Dhoni probably doesn’t even have.”
Ashwin’s stance on the run-out rule was endorsed by the Marylebone Cricket Club, the custodians of cricket’s laws. Reports also suggest that he may have influenced certain rules in recent IPL auctions, further showcasing his intellect and impact on the game.
Latif commented that Ashwin’s decision to retire during the ongoing 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Series might hint at lack of respect for him in the Indian dressing room. Despite his immense contributions, Latif believes Ashwin may not have received the recognition he truly deserved, both as a player and a thinker in the sport.
He further added, “Ashwin, as a cricketer, maybe he hasn’t received the respect he deserves in the dressing room; I don’t know about it. He’s wondering if he’ll be in the playing XI or not. He’s the world’s No. 3 bowler, and taking 537 wickets for India is a huge achievement.”
Latif stated, “Perhaps he feels that his career might be nearing its end, especially when players like Washington Sundar are getting preference, so he might be deciding whether he’ll play in the Sydney Test or not, whether he’ll play in Melbourne or not. At some point, a person reaches a boiling point. I’ve been there myself many times.”
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