Ravichandran Ashwin – ‘Accidental Spinner’ who became India Great

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Spinner Ravichandran Ashwin will go down as one of India’s greatest players after he retired from international cricket on Wednesday at the age of 38.

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

Ashwin, described as an “all-time great” by his Test captain Rohit Sharma, 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 ODIs and 65 Twenty20 internationals.

Ashwin walked off 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 is a little bit left in me as a cricketer but I want to utilize it at home and club level,” Ashwin told reporters.

“I’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of memories.”

He was not picked for Brisbane, with his last Test in Adelaide last week taking 1-53 and India being beaten well by 10 wickets.

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

“The privilege of watching you grow from a young bowler to a legend of modern cricket is something I wouldn’t trade for the world,” Gambhir wrote on social media.

Teammate Kohli said he had “enjoyed every bit of the journey” with the bowler.

“Your skills 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.

Hailing from the southern city of Chennai, Ashwin started as an IT engineer after completing his graduation 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 a milestone 500 wickets in the third Test against England in February at Rajkot when he dismissed Zak Crawley.

Ashwin was a master craftsman and used the entire width of the crease as he delivered his off-spin from multiple angles at varying paces.

He also had a deceptive “armball” that goes straight on, and was working on developing a “carromball” that goes the other way, delivered with his knuckles.

But his sometimes blunt, no-nonsense attitude has led to the occasional controversy, such as when he inflicted “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 finished with 37 five-wicket Test hauls to his name, with a best of 7-59.

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

“He’s a world-class bowler and someone I’ve followed closely from the start of his career,” Lyon said.

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

“I always wanted to be a batter. Life gave me a chance,” he once said.

Ashwin has told 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 refused 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 and became the most successful pair for India in Tests.