Former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin finds Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement funny. Ashwin announced his retirement from international cricket on December 18, 2024, after the Gabba Test ends in a draw. He wasn't able to make his place in India's playing XI in two of the first three Tests but made it to the team in the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
Ashwin's sudden retirement in the mid-series was a shock to the cricketing world and his fans all over the world. He attended the post-match presentation with Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and addressed the media. He was dropped from the team playing in the Gabba Test.
Brad Haddin shared his honest views on R Ashwin's retirement, stating that him retiring in mid-series was the funny one. He said that India's spinner didn't like sitting on the bench and not making his spot in the playing XI, which led to this big decision.
"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 shouldn't be a shock when you get there; they have played here enough; they have success here, so the Ashwin retiring mid-series was a funny one. I don't think we've heard the last of that yet. I think he was just jacking off, not getting picked."
Further, he said that Ashwin was not happy being given the priority in the team, which was the main reason for his sudden retirement in between the series.
"I think he sees himself as the number one spinner. His record is elite, and he just went, 'You know what? I'm not sitting on the bench. If you can't decide that I'm your best spinner, I'm done. I've played enough. I don't need this. I don't think we have heard the end of that."
Ashwin signed off his international career as the second-highest wicket-taker for India with 537 Test wickets in 106 matches. He played 116 ODIs, claiming 156 wickets, while in T20 he took 72 wickets in 65 matches.