Page 41 - The Indian EYE 122724

SPORTS DECEMBER 27, 2024 | The Indian Eye 41

kar...Ashwin has gone. I wish I had Well done to you. Good luck going
been there, I wouldn’t have let him forward, and I hope we meet often
go like that. I would have sent him now,” Harbhajan was quoted in a re-
with a lot of respect and happiness,” lease from Star Sports as saying.
Kapil Dev said.
Former Indian head coach Ravi Former cricketer Monty Panesar
Shastri opened up on what made
recently retired all-rounder Ravi- on Wednesday showered praise
chandran Ashwin such a special play- on Ravichandran Ashwin’s il-
er, saying he desired to evolve with
times and learn “new tricks” that lustrious career and said that
helped him achieve greatness. Shas- the 38-year-old was one of the
tri was on hand to see many of those
match-winning efforts in his role as greatest spinners coming from
India head coach and the 62-year- India. Panesar said that Ash-
old opened up on the spinner’s spe-
cial quality when speaking with host win has always been the great-
Sanjana Ganesan on the most recent est off-spinner of all time. The
episode of The ICC Review. “I think
what stands out for me was his want- former cricketer added that
ing to evolve all the time,” Shastri Ashwin had produced some
said as quoted by ICC. “He was not
the kind of guy satisfied as to where match-winning spells for India.
he started,” he added.
After the completion of the Bris- Former cricketer Matthew
bane Test against India on Wednes- Hayden on Wednesday praised
day, Australia skipper Pat Cummins Ravichandran Ashwin after his re-
reacted to off-spinner Ravichandran tirement from international crick-
Ashwin’s retirement announcement et, calling the 38-year-old a “smart
and said it was “a bit of a surprise”. cricketer”. Speaking exclusively to
“The timing was a bit of a surprise. Star Sports, Hayden lauded Ashwin
He’s been a fantastic player all as a player with a sharp mind and a
around the world. There aren’t too strategic approach to the game. He
many finger spinners that have that noted Ashwin’s determination and
kind of longevity. He’ll go down as ability to devise cunning plans.
one of the all-time greats. He was al- “Yeah, I think Sunny described
ways a fantastic competitor; we had him really well--a very smart crick-
a lot of battles against him over the eter. And you know, he’s a cricketer
years here in Australia as well over Ashwin remains the only player in Test history to have made more than five Test hundreds (6) who just stays on task, always work-
in India. Just a massive respect from to go along with 500 wickets to his name (BCCI) ing out a cunning plan. He’s got
our change room to the career that great belief in his own ability. He’s
he’s had,” Pat Cummins said in the generation. Speaking to Star Sports, a brilliant career--an outstanding quite polarising in many ways when
post-match press conference. Harbhajan showered praise on Ash- career, I’d rather say. You’ve taken it comes to the cricketing public, and
Former cricketer Harbhajan win for having a brilliant and out- the tradition of spin bowling to the even to his own team--he’s a very
Singh congratulated Ravichandran standing career. He added that Ash- next level. You’ve inspired the next strong-minded person. But I person-
Ashwin on Wednesday following his win took the tradition of spin bowling generation. Thank you very much for ally want to wish Ashwin a wonderful
retirement from international cricket to the next level. all the efforts, all the wickets, and ev- retirement,” Hayden said in a state-
and said that he has inspired the next “Congratulations, Ashwin, for erything you have done on the field. ment released by Star Sports.

ONE OF THE BEST EVER

A look at the records made by joint-quickest to get to that mark alongside Mut- Second-most five-wicket hauls:
Ravichandran Ashwin has bagged a five-for
Ravichandran Ashwin while playing: tiah Muralidaran. in a Test innings 37 times - second only to Mut-
The Indian off-spinner also holds the record
for being the quickest to bag 250 and 300 Test tiah Muralidaran, who has 67 to his name. The
Second-most wickets for India: wickets - having done so off 45 and 54 outings re- off-spinner has also nabbed 10 wickets in a Test
Ashwin finishes his career with 765 scalps spectively. match on eight instances during his career, be-
across formats - second-highest for India, only Six Test hundreds and 500 wickets: hind Muralidaran (22), Shane Warne (10), Sir
behind Anil Kumble (953). His tally of 537 wick- Ashwin remains the only player in Test history Richard Hadlee and Rangana Herath (9) and
ets for India in Test cricket is also second only to to have claimed more than five Test hundreds (6) equal to compatriot Anil Kumble.
Anil Kumble (619). to go along with 500 wickets to his name. He is only Joint-highest player of the series awards:
Quickest to 350 Test wickets: behind Ian Botham (5) in the tally of nabbing a The spin all-rounder has been adjudged
Back in 2019, Ashwin breached the mark Test century and five-for in the same Test - having Player of the Series 11 times during his Test ca-
in his 66th Test match for India and is the done so four times. reer - joint-best alongside Muttiah Muralidaran.

www.TheIndianEYE.com