Ravichandran Ashwin announces immediate retirement from all forms of cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin. Photo / AP

India’s off-spinning great Ravichandran Ashwin announced his immediate retirement from international cricket following the third test against Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday.

The 38-year-old took 537 wickets in his 106 tests at an average of 24.00, leaving him seventh on the all-time list and second only to Anil Kumble (619) for his country.

He also played 116 one-day and 65 Twenty20 internationals.

“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at an international level,” he said at the post-match press conference alongside skipper Rohit Sharma.

“I feel there’s a little bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I’d like to express that, showcase that, in club-level cricket.”

He was not selected for Brisbane with his final Test coming in Adelaide last week where he took 1-53.

“I’ve had a lot of fun. I have made a lot of memories alongside Rohit and several of my teammates,” he added.

“Obviously there are a lot of people to thank, but I will be failing in my duties if I didn’t thank the BCCI and fellow teammates.”

Ashwin made his Test debut in 2011 against the West Indies and was also handy with the bat, scoring 3503 runs with six centuries and 14 fifties.