'Looking Ahead to Retirement: Ravichandran Ashwin Shares His Plans Before Bangladesh Test Series'

New Delhi: India’s legendary all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin, affectionately known as ‘Anna’, has decided to focus solely on Test Cricket in his International career at the age of 37. He is currently second only to the great Anil Kumble in terms of wicket-takers in Tests for India. Despite still aiming for the top spot, Ashwin now plays the game purely for the love of it. When questioned about retirement, the cricketer from Tamil Nadu stated that he will only retire when he no longer has that passion for the game.

“There is nothing like that in my mind. I am only thinking about one day at a time because when you get older, you have to put in extra effort every single day. It’s not the same. I have put in a lot of effort in the last 3-4 years. I haven’t decided (retirement), but the day I feel that today I don’t want to improve, I will leave. That’s all,” Ashwin told Vimal Kumar, on the latter’s YouTube channel, on being asked if he can play till 40.

“I haven’t set any targets for myself. Anil Bhai wants me to break his record, but I’m just happy living day by day. I don’t want to lose my love for the game by setting targets,” he added.

Earlier, Ashwin had also spoken about a tough phase in his career, between 2018 and 2020, when injuries and form made him consider his future in the game. But now, the joy is back in Ashwin’s mind.

“I know how my life changed after that tough phase. I’m just holding on to my joy of cricket, and the moment I feel I’m losing it, I’ll step away.”

“We all play, and we all have to leave. Somebody else will come and do well. It’s Indian cricket,” he concluded.