India’s legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin surprised everyone on Thursday by announcing his retirement. He revealed his decision during a press conference after the Gabba Test. When Ashwin’s father was questioned about the matter, he made a shocking statement, claiming that Ashwin was being mistreated. His remarks put the Indian team management under scrutiny. Now, Ashwin has broken his silence on the issue, clarifying his father’s statement. He stated that his father has no knowledge of the matter and urged people to leave him alone.
“Leave Him Alone”
Ashwin retweeted a tweet and wrote: “My father is not media-trained, and he doesn’t know the full context. I never expected you to follow this rich tradition of interpreting statements from fathers. I request you all to forgive him and leave him alone.”
“Found Out at the Last Moment”
Ashwin’s father, Ravichandran, gave an exclusive interview to CNN News 18, where he spoke about his son’s retirement. He mentioned that he only learned about Ashwin’s decision at the last moment. He said, “I got to know about it at the last minute. I have no idea what was going through his mind. He just announced it. I accepted it with complete happiness. However, while I am happy on one side, I am not on the other, as I feel he should have continued playing.”
“Maybe It Was Due to Disrespect”
During the interview, Ashwin’s father could not pinpoint a specific reason for his son’s decision to retire despite his incredible record, which places him among the highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. However, he hinted that not being a regular part of the playing XI might have felt disrespectful to Ashwin. He said, “The decision to retire was his own desire and wish. I cannot interfere in that. But the way he took this decision could have several reasons. Only Ashwin knows, but perhaps it was due to disrespect.”
He further added, “Certainly, there is no doubt about the emotional aspect for the family, as he spent 14-15 years on the field. The sudden change—retirement—took us by surprise. At the same time, we expected it because he was being disrespected. How long could he tolerate all of that? Perhaps he made the decision himself.”