"Got to know only 5 minutes before.." Ravindra Jadeja reveals his reaction to Ravi Ashwin's "surprise" retirement

Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja formed one of the greatest bowling duos of all time in test cricket.

Ravindra Jadeja made an interesting revelation that he wasn’t aware of Ravi Ashwin’s decision to retire from international cricket at all and only learned it minutes before the senior cricketer’s press conference.

On December 18, 2024, Ashwin bid adieu to international cricket, announcing it in the press conference following the drawn Gabba test of the BGT 2024-25.

Ashwin had played in the second test of the series in Adelaide and was replaced by Jadeja for the third test in Brisbane. The left-hander struck an important half-century in India’s first innings that helped them avoid the follow-on and all but cemented his place in the side for the fourth test in Melbourne.

Ashwin was benched for youngster Washington Sundar in the first game. He was unlikely to feature at the MCG and SCG as well.

Ravi Ashwin didn’t even give a hint: Ravindra Jadeja

Ashwin’s decision to retire, while being the fifth-ranked ICC test bowler and third-ranked ICC test all-rounder, left everyone in shock and took even Jadeja by surprise, who admitted that Ashwin hadn’t given any hint to him of his retirement plan.

“I got to know about it only in the last moment. Just before when he came to address the press. I think it was 5 minutes before the press conference, people told me that this was going to happen. Obviously, I was surprised because we both were sitting together throughout that day. He didn’t even give a hint. I got to know in the last minute. Yes, we all know Ashwin’s mind and how it works,” Jadeja said on Saturday in Melbourne.

Jadeja and Ashwin formed one of the greatest bowling pairs of all time in test cricket and were the main weapons for India in their 12-year home dominance. In the 58 test matches they played together, they took 587 wickets – the most by a spin duo and the sixth most overall.

49 of these 58 tests came in India and the hosts won 35 of those, losing only six. However, they couldn’t help India avoid the 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand recently.

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