Former India batsman WV Raman has backed Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to retire after the third Test against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT). WV Raman said this is not the first time this has happened mid-series and added that players quit when they feel they have had enough.

Ravichandran Ashwin shocked the cricket world by announcing his retirement from international cricket on December 18. Ashwin played 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is, taking 537, 156 and 72 wickets respectively. He was also part of India’s 2011 World Cup and 2013 Champions Trophy winning teams.

WV Raman backs Ravichandran Ashwin’s mid-series retirement

Some pundits have questioned the timing of Ravichandran Ashwin’s retirement with two Tests left in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but WV Raman backed the decision. Raman pointed out that many cricketers have retired mid-series before.

“I think there has been a case before where a cricketer retired during a series. This is not the first time this has happened. Secondly, a cricketer retires when he feels he has had enough,” Raman told PTI during an interaction.

It is not known when this click happens – WV Raman

WV Raman, who as a coach worked with a 20-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin making his debut for Tamil Nadu, said a cricketer may not know exactly when he will decide to retire, but one day he just feels like he can do it. Continue with the routine of training and playing.

“It’s all a matter of things slowing down in the mind or suddenly a cricketer gets the feeling that enough is enough! I can’t really follow this routine of getting up or training, getting on the floor, doing things over and over again.

“It is not known when this snap in the mind suddenly occurs. But when that happens, that’s when a cricketer decides to call it a day,” Raman said.

It has been around for a long time – WV Raman

The 59-year-old defended Ravichandran Ashwin’s decision to retire, adding that his nature might have made it difficult for him to remain in the team without making a significant contribution. Raman noted that he has been around for a long time in his illustrious career.

“It’s been around for a long, long time. Perhaps, you must have felt that if you are not really going to make any difference or make any contribution, there is no point in staying there.

“Let’s face it, for someone who has been as combative and competitive as Ashwin has been, and for a match winner who has been for a long period of time, it is not a great situation to be thinking in your mind: ‘To be or to be “. “not to be”, what is better.”

Ashwin was included in the squad for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, but was excluded from the playing XI in the first Test in Perth and the third Test match in Brisbane. The rain-affected Gabba test concluded in a draw, with the Boxing Day test scheduled to begin in Melbourne on December 26.

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