Ravichandran Ashwin Discusses His Retirement Plans Ahead Of IND vs BAN Test Series

When asked about Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement plans, the 37-year-old from Tamil Nadu stated that he will retire when he no longer feels the same passion for the game.

The first Test of the two-match IND vs BAN Test series begins from September 19 onwards in Chennai.

Source : PTI

Veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, continues to play out of sheer love for the game. While he hasn't officially retired from white-ball cricket, he's no longer a regular pick in those formats, but remains a crucial figure in the Test team. When asked about his retirement plans, the 37-year-old from Tamil Nadu stated that he will retire when he no longer feels the same 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 journalist Vimal Kumar on being asked if he can play till 40.

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"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.

Ravichandran Ashwin has previously spoken about a difficult phase in his career from 2018 to 2020, when injuries and a loss of form made him contemplate his future in cricket. However, he is once again enjoying his time on the field.

"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," the veteran off-spinner concluded.

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