Ravichandran Ashwin’s unexpected mid-series retirement during the Border Gavaskar Trophy shocked cricket fans worldwide. The legendary off-spinner’s decision, announced after the drawn third Test in Brisbane, followed a single appearance in a series India ultimately lost 3-1. While many were surprised by the timing, a prescient prediction surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) months earlier.
In November 2024, a user responding to a post asking for Border Gavaskar Trophy predictions accurately stated, “Ashwin announcing retirement in mid-series.” This comment went viral after Ashwin’s actual retirement, prompting amusement and speculation. Some jokingly questioned whether Ashwin had confided in the fan beforehand, while others lauded the prediction’s accuracy. The fan himself attributed his success to a deep understanding of Ashwin’s career trajectory, noting that the spinner had become India’s fourth-choice overseas bowler behind Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, who were expected to lead the spin attack in upcoming home series.
Ashwin’s retirement marked the end of a remarkable career spanning over a decade as a key member of the Indian Test team. Renowned for his dominance on home soil, he boasts an impressive record, including eleven Player of the Match awards—a record he shares with Sri Lanka’s Muttaiah Muralitharan. He is India’s second-highest Test wicket-taker after Anil Kumble, with 537 scalps (37 five-wicket hauls and 25 four-wicket hauls) at an average of 24, placing him seventh on the all-time Test wicket-takers list.
Beyond his bowling prowess, Ashwin’s batting contributions in Test cricket are equally noteworthy. He scored six centuries and amassed 3503 runs in the longest format. His overall ODI and T20I career also yielded a commendable 228 wickets. Ashwin’s retirement leaves a significant void in Indian cricket, ending a truly illustrious career.