Ravichandran Ashwin, one of the most imaginative and skillful spinners of his era, has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket, closing the curtain on a remarkable 16-year international and IPL career. Ashwin departs as India’s second-highest wicket-taker in Test history with 537 wickets from 106 matches, only behind Anil Kumble. His tally of 11 Player-of-the-Series awards in Tests, tied with Muttiah Muralitharan, underscores his match-winning consistency. Ashwin was the quickest to several bowling milestones, including being the fastest Indian to 500 Test wickets (98 matches), and he stands as the leading wicket-taker in the World Test Championship through three cycles.

Renowned for his mastery of off-spin, the carrom ball, and sharp cricketing intellect, Ashwin also contributed more than 3500 Test runs, with six centuries and 14 fifties, placing him among an elite group of all-rounders. In limited-overs cricket, he was pivotal to India’s 2011 World Cup-winning campaign and dominated in ODIs and T20Is. Ashwin’s legacy extends to the IPL, where he claimed 187 wickets in 221 matches, played for five franchises, and was instrumental in Chennai Super Kings’ early title wins. His impact is etched in Indian cricket history as a relentless match-winner and a thinker whose innovations inspired countless young cricketers.