Kapil Dev On Ashwin’s Retirement: I Would Have Sent Him Off With Respect

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev expressed disappointment over Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement from international cricket without a proper farewell. Ashwin, a renowned off-spinner, announced his retirement after the Brisbane Test ended in a draw.

Kapil Dev On Ashwin's Retirement

"The next generation has to be better than us. If not, the world is not going ahead. We never imagined that somebody would come close to Sachin Tendulkar or Sunil Gavaskar...Ashwin has gone. I wish I had been there, I wouldn't have let him go like that. I would have sent him with a lot of respect and happiness," Kapil Dev said as quoted by ANI.

Ashwin's decision was announced during a post-match press conference alongside India's captain Rohit Sharma. Speculation about his retirement grew when he became emotional and received a hug from Virat Kohli. Ashwin's career statistics are impressive, having played 106 Tests and taken 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls, while scoring 3,503 runs.

Ravichandran Ashwin's Remarkable Career

In Test cricket history, Ashwin ranks as the seventh-highest wicket-taker and second for India, following Anil Kumble with 619 wickets. He also holds the second-most five-wicket hauls in Tests after Sri Lankan legend Muttiah Muralitharan's 67. His influence was pivotal during India's dominance in Test cricket from 2014 to 2019.

Ashwin's contributions extend beyond Test matches; he played 181 limited-overs games, taking 228 wickets. In ODIs, he claimed 156 wickets in 116 matches with best figures of 4/25 and scored 707 runs. In T20Is, he took 72 wickets in 65 games with best figures of 4/8 and scored 184 runs.

A Legacy That Inspires Future Generations

With a total of 765 international wickets across formats, Ashwin stands as India's second-highest wicket-taker after Kumble's record of 953 wickets. He was part of India's victorious squads in the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. His retirement signifies the end of an era but leaves behind an inspiring legacy for future cricketers.

Kapil Dev lamented not being present to bid Ashwin farewell with due respect and joy. The former skipper highlighted the importance of honouring players who have contributed significantly to Indian cricket.