NEW DELHI: Ajinkya Rahane on Wednesday hailed off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin following the spinner's retirement announcement.
Ashwin's decision to retire from international cricket after the drawn third Test in Brisbane came as a surprise for many. The 38-year-old made the announcement official alongside India captain Rohit Sharma in the post-match presser after the Test.
Tributes poured in from all quarters after Ashwin’s retirement news, celebrating his illustrious career.
Rahane too joined the bandwagon, sharing his memories of fielding at slip during Ashwin's spells, describing it as a memorable experience.
Ashwin's Test debut against the West Indies in 2011 marked the start of a distinguished career. He played 106 Test matches, amassing 537 wickets, including 37 five-wicket hauls. He also contributed significantly with the bat, scoring 3,503 runs.
In 23 Tests against Australia, Ashwin took 115 wickets at an economy rate of 2.71. He holds the record for most wickets in a single Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, achieving the feat during the 2020-21 series, claiming 29 wickets.
Ashwin established numerous records in Test cricket, some of which may stand for a long time. He became the fastest Indian bowler to reach 350 Test wickets.
Ashwin is India's second-highest Test wicket-taker behind legend Anil Kumble, with 537 dismissals at an economy rate of 2.83.
