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Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on December 18, 2024, marking the end of a highly successful career spanning over a decade. Known for his mastery in both Test and limited-overs formats, Ashwin’s contributions were pivotal in India‘s rise as a top cricketing nation.
Ravichandran Ashwin’s glorious international career for India
His consistency and versatility earned him 765 wickets in international cricket, including 537 in Tests. Ashwin’s skill in spin-friendly conditions and his ability to deliver crucial performances against top teams made him one of India’s finest match-winners. He holds the distinction of being the fastest Indian bowler to reach milestones from 50 Test wickets to 500 Test wickets.
Ashwin’s career is highlighted by numerous match-defining spells, notably his 7/59 against New Zealand and 6/55 versus England in Tests. His contributions with the bat further complemented his bowling prowess, with crucial lower-order runs in Tests and ODIs. Ashwin’s retirement marks the end of an illustrious career, leaving behind a lasting legacy as one of India’s greatest all-format cricketers.
Ashwin: A master of five-wicket hauls
Ashwin’s mastery with the ball is best highlighted by his ability to claim five-wicket hauls consistently across all formats of the game. In Test cricket, he has achieved the milestone an astounding 37 times in just 106 matches, including eight ten-wicket match hauls. These performances have come against almost every major cricketing nation, with standout displays such as 7/59 against New Zealand and 6/55 against England. His dominance in Test matches is further highlighted by his consistent success at home and in favorable spin-friendly conditions.
In ODIs, Ashwin’s opportunities for five-wicket hauls have been limited, but his spell of 4/25 against United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the ODI Cricket World Cup 2015 was a significant highlight, underlining his effectiveness in white-ball cricket. In T20Is, Ashwin has delivered with extraordinary efficiency, with his best figures of 4/8 coming against Sri Lanka in 2016, a testament to his adaptability and skill in the shortest format. Across formats, his contributions have been evenly distributed against top cricketing nations, showcasing his versatility and impact.
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Ashwin’s five-wicket hauls in Test cricket
- New Zealand: 6 five-wicket hauls, including a career-best 7/59.
- England: 8 five-wicket hauls, including match-defining performances like 6/55.
- Australia: 7 five-wicket hauls, demonstrating his dominance in high-stakes series.
- West Indies: 6 five-wicket hauls, with his best figures of 7/71 in spin-friendly conditions.
- South Africa: 5 five-wicket hauls, showcasing his ability against quality opposition.
- Sri Lanka: 3 five-wicket hauls, including match-turning spells like 6/46.
- Bangladesh: 2 five-wicket hauls, reflecting his dominance in subcontinent conditions.
- Afghanistan: 1 five-wicket haul during their debut Test.
Ashwin’s notable performances in ODIs
- Best figures: 4/25 against UAE in the 2015 World Cup.
- Regular wicket-taker against teams like Sri Lanka and England with economical spells.
- Limited opportunities for five-wicket hauls due to role and format demands.
Ashwin’s top performances in T20Is
- Sri Lanka: Best figures of 4/8 in 2016, showcasing his ability to bamboozle batters with variations.
- Australia: Memorable spells, including 4/11, in critical encounters.
- Zimbabwe and South Africa: Consistent contributions with multiple three-wicket hauls.
- Namibia and Netherlands: Dominated with crucial match-winning spells.
Ashwin’s batting impact: Centuries in international cricket
Ashwin’s batting, though primarily recognized for his bowling prowess, has contributed significantly to India’s success in Tests, ODIs, and T20Is. His ability to deliver useful runs in key situations has played a pivotal role in matches across different formats. Below, we break down his batting performance in these formats and highlight his contributions against various top cricketing nations.
Test cricket: Batting contributions
Ashwin has been known for his gritty batting in the lower order, particularly in Test matches where he has played 106 matches and scored 3503 runs at an average of 25.75.
- Centuries: 6 centuries
- Fifties: 14 fifties
- Zeroes: 9 instances of being dismissed for a duck
- His best Test score of 124 came against the West Indies, showcasing his ability to play a match-defining innings.
- Against New Zealand, Ashwin scored 294 runs at 17.29, proving his effectiveness in spin-friendly conditions.
- Against England, he scored 1086 runs at 32.90, featuring a century and six fifties, often playing crucial knocks in tough situations.
- Against Australia, Ashwin scored 572 runs at 17.33, including three fifties, showcasing resilience in tough, seaming conditions.
- Against West Indies, he scored 608 runs at 50.66, including a century, playing some of his best knocks against a spin-friendly opposition. He scored four hundreds alone the Caribbean side.
- Against South Africa, Ashwin accumulated 321 runs at 17.83, contributing lower-order runs in challenging overseas conditions.
- Against Sri Lanka, Ashwin scored 333 runs at 20.81, showcasing utility in subcontinent conditions.
ODI cricket: Batting contribution
In ODIs, Ashwin’s role has been largely as a lower-order contributor, scoring 707 runs at an average of 16.44 in 116 matches.
- Centuries: 0
- Fifties: 1
- Zeroes: 6 instances of being dismissed for a duck
- His best ODI score of 65 came against New Zealand, playing an important match saving knock for India
- Against Sri Lanka, Ashwin scored 132 runs at 16.50, often contributing valuable runs in middle overs.
- Against England, he scored 128 runs at 14.22, delivering lower-order runs during critical moments.
- Against West Indies, Ashwin scored 135 runs at 33.75, playing a key role in controlling the innings during World Cup encounters.
T20I Cricket: Batting Contribution
In T20Is, Ashwin’s role has been more about providing finishing power, scoring 184 runs at an average of 26.28 in 65 matches.
- Centuries: 0
- Fifties: 0
- Zeroes: 0 instances of being dismissed for a duck
- His best T20I score of 31 came against Sri Lanka, showcasing his ability to anchor innings when required.
- Against Australia, Ashwin scored 33 runs at 106.45, delivering some crucial runs in key encounters.
- Against South Africa, he scored 20 runs at 6.66, contributing in difficult conditions.
- Against West Indies, Ashwin scored 34 runs at 34.00, providing vital lower-order runs.
Country-wise Contributions:
1. Against West Indies:
- Tests: 608 runs at 50.66 with a century.
- ODIs: 135 runs at 33.75.
- T20Is: 34 runs at 34.00.
- Strong Test and ODI performances, particularly in spin-friendly conditions.
2. Against New Zealand:
- Tests: 335 runs at 41.87 with a century.
- ODIs: 85 runs at 14.16.
- T20Is: 10 runs at 10.00.
- A significant century in Tests, but limited ODI and T20I contributions.
3. Against England:
- Tests: 1086 runs at 32.90 with a century.
- ODIs: 128 runs at 14.22.
- T20Is: 22 runs at 11.00.
- Key contributions in Tests and limited impact in limited-overs formats.
4. Against South Africa:
- Tests: 321 runs at 17.83.
- ODIs: 81 runs at 20.25.
- T20Is: 20 runs at 6.66.
- Struggled against South Africa across all formats.
5. Against Sri Lanka:
- Tests: 333 runs at 20.81.
- ODIs: 132 runs at 16.50.
- T20Is: 46 runs at 31*.
- Consistent utility across formats in subcontinent conditions.
6. Against Australia:
- Tests: 572 runs at 17.33.
- ODIs: 85 runs at 14.16.
- T20Is: 33 runs at 106.45.
- Limited impact in limited-overs, but contributed in Tests.
7. Against Pakistan:
- ODIs: 45 runs at 11.25.
- T20Is: 1 run at 100.00.
- Played a small role in limited-overs encounters.
