Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket in the middle of the Australia tour, shocking fans and critics. While his fans and former cricketers wanted a farewell Test for him, Ashwin clearly stated that he does not want to stick around with the team just to get a final goodbye. Ashwin still feels that he can continue the sports, but not in the Indian team anymore. On his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "I want to play more cricket. Where is the place? Obviously not in the Indian dressing room, but somewhere else. I want to be honest with the game. Imagine if I wanted to play a farewell Test but didn’t deserve a place. Imagine I was only selected because it was my farewell Test. I don’t want that. I felt there was still strength in my cricket and that I could have played a bit more. But it’s always better to leave when people ask ‘why’ rather than ‘why not’." Read also: Ravichandran Ashwin announces retirement after match drawn at Gabba Ashwin continues for CSK Ashwin calls off his place after the third Test in Gabba. Ashwin himself came to the post-match press conference and announced his retirement. Ashwin played 106 Tests for India, with his last in Adelaide, in the pink-ball match against Australia. He ended his Test career as India's second-highest wicket-taker with 537 wickets. Despite this achievement, he was not selected for the series opener in Perth, as India chose Washington Sundar. Ashwin featured in the second Test in Adelaide but was dropped for the third Test in Brisbane, with Ravindra Jadeja being preferred instead. Reflecting on his career, Ashwin stated he has no regrets, learning from both successes and failures. He emphasized playing for the joy of the game and dismissed the need for a farewell, as applause is fleeting. Regarding farewell match, he said, “What difference does it make if I come out with the ball and people applaud? How long will that applause last? In the pre-social media era, people would talk about it and forget within a week. There’s no need for a farewell. The game has given us so much joy, and we have played with happiness." Ashwin has reunited with the Chennai Super Kings after the franchise got him for INR 9.75 crore in the IPL Auction 2025. Regarding playing for CSK, Ashwin expressed his urge to continue playing for the team as long as possible.