NEW DELHI, Dec 18, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will go down 
as one of India's greatest players after retiring from international cricket 
on Wednesday aged 38.

India's go-to bowler was central to their Test dominance in the last decade 
with his ability to outfox top batsmen.

Ashwin finished with 537 wickets in 106 Tests since his debut in 2011 against 
the West Indies in New Delhi.

He was also more than useful with the bat.

Described as an "all-time great" by his Test captain Rohit Sharma, Ashwin 
earlier this year became only the ninth bowler to reach 500 Test wickets and 
only the second from India after Anil Kumble (619).

He also played 116 one-day and 65 Twenty20 internationals.

Ashwin walked into the sunset after the drawn third Test against Australia in 
Brisbane.

He was visibly emotional as he was hugged by Virat Kohli in the dressing 
room.

"There's a bit left in me as a cricketer but I would like to exploit it at 
the domestic and club-level cricket," Ashwin told reporters.

"I have had a lot of fun, a lot of memories."

He was not selected for Brisbane, with his final Test in Adelaide last week, 
where he took 1-53 and India were well beaten by 10 wickets.

- 'Legend' -

India head coach Gautam Gambhir paid tribute to a player he said would be 
greatly missed.

"The privilege of seeing you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern 
cricket is something that I wouldn't trade for the world," Gambhir wrote on 
social media.

Team-mate Kohli said he had "enjoyed every bit of the journey" with the 
bowler.

"Your skill and match-winning contributions to Indian cricket are second to 
none and you will always be remembered as a legend of Indian cricket," Kohli 
said.

Ashwin, who is from the southern city of Chennai, started out as an IT 
engineer after graduating from university and is known for his precision.

The innovative Ashwin always worked on his craft, even after his skill and 
guile led to a glittering international career.

He reached the landmark of 500 wickets in the third Test against England in 
February at Rajkot when he dismissed Zak Crawley.

A master craftsman, Ashwin employed the full width of the crease as he 
delivered his off-spin from multiple angles with varying pace.

He also had a deceptive "arm ball" that goes straight on, and worked to 
develop a "carrom ball" that goes the other way, delivered using his 
knuckles.

But his sometimes blunt, no-nonsense attitude has led to the occasional 
controversy, such as when inflicting "Mankad" runouts at the non-striker's 
end.

Ashwin was part of India's 2011 50-over World Cup title win at home and then 
the 2013 Champions Trophy, but it was three years later that he matured as a 
top-level bowler.

He took 48 wickets in eight Tests and had 27 victims in 19 Twenty20 matches 
in the 2015-16 season to be named the ICC cricketer of the year.

Ashwin ended with 37 five-wicket Test hauls to his name, with a best of 7-59.

- 'World class' -

Ashwin enjoyed a healthy rivalry with his Australia counterpart Nathan Lyon, 
who has 533 Test wickets in 132 matches.

"He's a world-class bowler and somebody I have watched closely from the start 
of his career," Lyon said.

Ashwin started off as a batsman who bowled medium-pace before switching to 
off-spin, and has called himself an "accidental spinner".

"I wanted to be a batter all along. Life gave me a chance," he once said.

Ashwin has recounted how he first got the chance to shine as a spinner while 
playing for Chennai Super Kings in the IPL.

All-time top wicket-taker Muttiah Muralitharan had declined to use the new 
ball so it was given to him instead -- and the rest was history.

The all-rounder also has 3,503 Test runs -- including six centuries -- from 
playing in the middle- and lower-order, with a career-high of 124.

He formed a potent spin partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, becoming the most 
successful pair for India in Tests.