Ravichandran Ashwin announced his retirement from all forms of international cricket at the end of the third Test match of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. As the match in Gabba saw the spoils being shared, Ashwin let the world know he was calling time in Indian threads and he would be flying back to India.

In the press-conference after the Test match in Brisbane, Ashwin said, “This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel there's a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to express that and probably showcase that in club-level cricket, but this will be the last day [for India].”

He further added, “I've had a lot of fun. I must say I have created a lot of memories alongside Rohit [Sharma] and several of my other team-mates, even though I have lost some of them [from the India team] over the last few years. We're the last bunch of OGs, if we can say that, left out in the dressing room, and I will be marking this as my date of having played at this level.”

Thanking his teammates over the years, Ashwin continued, “Obviously there are a lot of people to thank, but I would be failing in my duties if I didn't thank the BCCI and the fellow team-mates. Several of them. I want to name a few of them. All the coaches who have been part of the journey. Most importantly, Rohit, Virat [Kohli], Ajinkya [Rahane], [Cheteshwar] Pujara, who have taken those splendid catches around the bat to give me the number of wickets I've managed to get over the years.”

He also thanked the Australian cricket team for their ferocious rivalry over the years, adding, “Also a big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who have been very fierce competitors. I have enjoyed my time playing against them."

Ash also had a very emotional note for everyone who were alongside him in this glorious journey, adding, “Truly a very emotional moment. I don't think I am in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way. Please pardon me for that. Thanks for being the journalists you've been, writing good things and of course writing nasty things on occasions. That's a relationship I think we would maintain forever, and I hope the cricketers to come in the future will also get the same amount of love."

He concluded with a note of promise, stating “See you soon. As a cricketer, I have just stopped it. Might go on to be involved with the game, because this is a game that has given me everything."