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'Ashwin Was Being Humiliated': Retired Spinner's Father Reveals Shocking Details

Rajgeeta Yadav

R Ashwin announced retirement after Gabba Test [Source: AP]R Ashwin announced retirement after Gabba Test [Source: AP]

On Wednesday, India spin wizard Ravichandran Ashwin surprised fans worldwide by announcing his retirement from international cricket midway through the ongoing tour of Australia. While many assumed it was due to physical or personal reasons, Ashwin’s father, Ravichandran, has revealed a different story.

In an exclusive interview with CNN News18, Ravichandran claimed that constant “humiliation” might have played a key role in his son’s unexpected decision. Ashwin returned to Chennai on Thursday, where he was greeted by his emotional family at the airport. His parents admitted they were as shocked as his fans to hear the news.

Ravichandran shared that Ashwin’s announcement was sudden and unexpected, even for the family. He said:

 "I too came to know last minute, actually," Ashwin's father told News 18. "What was going on in his mind I don't know. He just announced. I too accepted it with full pleasure. I did not have any feelings 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."

R Ashwin's Father Hints On Possibility Of Humiliation

When asked about the reason behind the decision, Ravichandran hinted at the possibility of humiliation.

 "(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 added.

Ashwin, a Test cricket legend, had been a vital player for over a decade. However, recent team selections may have influenced his decision.

During the Australia tour, Ashwin played only one match—the pink-ball Test in Adelaide—before being benched for the remainder of the series. Younger players like Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja were given preference, signaling that Ashwin might no longer be India’s top choice for Test matches.

Ravichandran reflected on the emotional toll this took on the family, saying:

"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 he can tolerate all those things? Probably, he would have decided on his own." 

The 38-year-old off-spinner, a 2011 ODI World Cup winner, retires from international cricket with 765 wickets across formats and India’s second-highest wicket-taker in international cricke.