"Jack Of Not Being Picked': On R Ashwin's Retirement, Ex-Australia Star Drops Bombshell

Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin suggested that legendary spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement in the middle of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy stemmed from frustration over not being selected in the playing eleven. The veteran all-rounder sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity by announcing his retirement from international cricket following the draw in the third Test at Brisbane. Notably, Ashwin had not played in that match. He featured in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval, scoring 29 runs across both innings and taking one wicket. Before this series, he was part of India's shocking home Test series loss to New Zealand, their first in 12 years. Ashwin had been one of the key architects of India's dominant Test run at home.

Speaking on the Willow Talk podcast, Haddin said, "The first three Test matches, they played three different spinners, so they arrived here not knowing what their game style is going to be around here. It should not be a shock when you get here, they have played here enough, they have success here so the Ashwin retiring mid-series was a funny one. I do not think we have heard the last of that yet. I think he was just jack of not getting picked."

Haddin further added that Ashwin likely sees himself as the "number one spinner" and decided to retire on his own terms rather than sit on the bench if he was not considered essential.

"I think he sees himself as the number one spinner. His record is elite, and he just went, 'You know what I am not sitting on the bench. If you cannot decide that I am your best spinner, I am done. I have played enough. I do not need this.' I do not think we have heard the end of that," Haddin added.

India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 1-3, succumbing to a