Former Indian cricketer Manoj Tiwary has shared his views on the sudden retirement of legendary all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin who was not in the dugout midway through the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Manoj Tiwary feels that the Gautam Gambhir-led team management has insulted veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin by bringing in a young spinner like Washington Sundar in the playing XI and handing him more responsibility.
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When did Ravichandran Ashwin retire from international cricket?
Ashwin shocked the cricketing world after the third Test of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which was played at the Gabba in Brisbane.
On 18 December 2024, he came to a press conference along with skipper Rohit Sharma and announced his retirement from international cricket. He also clarified that he is still hungry and will continue to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next few years.
Ashwin ended his international career as one of the greatest Test players in the history of Indian cricket. He played a total of 106 Tests, 116 ODIs and 65 T20s for India.
He finished with 537 wickets in Test cricket, second only to Anil Kumble’s 619 wickets. He was outstanding with the bat too as he hit 3503 runs at an average of 25.75 including 6 centuries. Ashwin was also named five times in the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Year and the ICC Men’s Test Team of the Decade 2011–20.
Ravichandran Ashwin is insulted – Manoj Tiwary
In an interview to PTI, Manoj Tiwary said that Ashwin was mishandled by the Indian team management and felt insulted to see a new face coming into the playing XI despite being in top form.
“Ashwin was offended. Look at players like Washington Sundar and Tanush Kotian… they are all quality players and have played well in first-class cricket,” Tiwary said.
“But when you have a player of Ashwin’s calibre, what is the need to bring Washington into a home series where Ashwin, Jadeja and Kuldeep are there, and make him bowl more overs than Ashwin? Isn’t that an insult to Ashwin?” asked Tiwary.
One day he will surely come out and share his experience – Manoj Tiwary
Tiwary further said that Ashwin is a ‘nice guy’ and won’t reveal everything that went on behind the scenes, but in the future those details will surely come out.
“Is he just going to carry on, after giving so many match-winning performances? He’s not going to come and say that because he’s a good guy,” Manoj Tiwary said.
“But one day they will definitely come out and share their experience. This is not the right process. They are also players, and they also need some pat on the back and dignity,” concluded Tiwary.
Meanwhile, Manoj Tiwary became the headlines with his recent statements on India head coach Gautam Gambhir, where he accused Gambhir of taking undue credit for the success of Kolkata Knight Riders and also claimed that there is a rift between the head coach and India skipper Rohit Sharma.
