Ravi Shastri questions Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement call as India play two spinners in MCG Test

It was a shocking day for Indian cricket when veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin retired from internationals after the third Test at the Gabba of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The 38-year-old has ended his career with 765 wickets from the 285 matches he has played, and has finished as the second-highest wicket-taker for India. 

The questions are still being asked regarding Ashwin and his sudden retirement from international cricket. The experts and pundits still think that the legendary spin bowling all-rounder still had a bit more of cricket left to play in Tests or at least play the entire series in Australia, which would have bolstered the Indian line-up for the remainder of the series.

Former India cricketer and head coach Ravi Shastri has joined the debate and questioned his decision to bid adieu to the game. This came right after India chose to enter with a two-spinner combination in the ongoing fourth Test, where Washington Sundar came in for Shubman Gill, who had a poor run with the bat previously. Sundar paired up with Ravindra Jadeja as the second spin-bowling all-rounder, which raised Shastri's eyebrows on Ashwin's decision.

“If Ashwin knew that India would play two spinners, he might not have retired," said Shastri on air during the Boxing Day encounter.

Shastri on Gill’s exclusion

Shastri was also shocked at the omission of Shubman Gill from the playing XI, making way for an all-rounder. This led to a change in the batting order as well, as KL Rahul moved down to no. 3 replacing Gill, as skipper Rohit Sharma himself came back to opening alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. The cricketer-turned-commentator labelled the move as a brave one, further adding that the ace batter should have kept his place, and one of Nitish Kumar Reddy or Sundar could have played.

“It's a brave decision. I would have Gill. It would have been a tough choice between Reddy and Washington, but they have kept faith in them," Shastri added.

Also Read: Shastri reacts to Australian media calling Virat Kohli 'clown' after Konstas altercation

Speaking of the match India is currently trailing by 310 runs with a score of 164-5 on the board at Stumps on the second day. The southpaw duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Rishabh Pant is currently at the crease and Jaiswal so far has been the best batter in this match for them, scoring 82 from 118 deliveries.