Jadeja Expresses Surprise at Ashwin's Abrupt Retirement

Melbourne, Dec 21 (NationPress) India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja expressed his disbelief over Ravichandran Ashwin’s sudden retirement, which caught both fans and teammates off guard. He revealed that he learned about the retirement just moments before the official announcement.

“I got to know about the retirement at the last moment. Five minutes before the press conference. It was shocking,” Jadeja told reporters at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

“We spent the entire day together, and he didn’t even give me a hint. We all know how Ashwin’s mind works (laughs),” he added.

Ashwin and Jadeja have been crucial to India’s bowling strength in Test cricket for over a decade. Having played 58 Tests together, they formed a powerful spin partnership, taking a combined total of 587 wickets. Their collaboration has eclipsed the legendary duo of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, who achieved 501 wickets together.

While Ashwin’s retirement is indeed a shocking development, it also marks a transition in Indian cricket. Jadeja recognized the gap his fellow bowler leaves but remains hopeful about the opportunities this creates for emerging players.

“We have been bowling partners for so many years. We complemented each other well. We used to strategize against the batters. I will miss so many aspects,” he stated.

Nevertheless, he quickly redirected his thoughts toward the future. “Hopefully, someone even better, both as a spinner and an all-rounder, will take Ashwin’s place. India has a wealth of talent, and no one is irreplaceable. This is a golden opportunity for any young player to step up and make an impact.”

Jadeja's remarks followed a resilient innings of 77 at the Gabba, a performance that helped India get back into the series, which is currently tied at 1-1. Reflecting on his contribution, he expressed that the innings had provided him with great confidence.

“Scoring runs when the team is in a tough spot boosts your confidence,” he said. “My mindset will remain the same. I need to play according to the match situation and fulfill the team’s requirements.”

His innings not only salvaged the game but also highlighted his significant value as an all-rounder. Interestingly, Jadeja did not participate in the first two Tests of the series in Perth and Adelaide. While some might view this as a missed chance, Jadeja believes it ultimately benefited him.

“Sitting out the first two matches allowed me to practice more and become accustomed to the conditions. The hard work in the nets paid off during the match,” he remarked.

With the series level at 1-1, India has a chance to make history by claiming their third consecutive Test series victory in Australia. Jadeja is acutely aware of the stakes and the opportunity this presents.

“We are in a good position; after three matches, it’s still 1-1. It’s going to be interesting. Even if we win just one match out of the next two, we will retain the series because we have won the last two times here. It’s a great opportunity to push ourselves and perform well in Melbourne. Yes, we will think about the last match later; our current focus is on the Boxing Day Test. It’s a critical game for us,” Jadeja stated.

The fourth Test between India and Australia is set to commence on December 26 at the MCG.