Ponting Praises Ashwin as One of Cricket's Brightest Minds
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New Delhi, Dec 19 (NationPress) Ricky Ponting, the former captain of Australia, has expressed high praise for the recently retired Ravichandran Ashwin, emphasizing the veteran off-spinner's exceptional cricketing intellect.
Ashwin, aged 38, made an unexpected announcement regarding his retirement from international cricket immediately following India's third Test against Australia, a match he was not part of, which concluded in a draw at the Gabba in Brisbane.
He wrapped up his impressive 14-year international career with a total of 537 wickets at an average of 24 across 106 Tests, making him India’s second-highest wicket-taker, trailing only the legendary leg-spinner Anil Kumble. Additionally, he achieved a remarkable 37 five-wicket hauls in Tests, the second-highest in cricket history, along with eight ten-wicket hauls.
“I must admit that I was quite taken aback to learn of Ravi Ashwin's retirement. He has been a tremendous pillar of Indian cricket. His home record is remarkable, and his overseas performance is equally impressive,” stated Ponting.
“He will be remembered as one of the greatest spin bowlers and one of the all-time greats of Indian cricket. I had the privilege of playing against him and coaching him at the Delhi Capitals. He possesses one of the most astute cricket minds you'll ever encounter,” Ponting shared in a video released by the ICC on their Instagram account.
Ashwin also amassed six Test centuries and 14 fifties during his career in the longer format. His final international appearance was in the day-night Test against Australia in Adelaide, where he recorded figures of 1-53 in his 18 overs and scored 29 runs, as India faced a ten-wicket defeat.
Throughout his career, Ashwin participated in 116 ODIs for India, claiming 156 wickets, and was part of the victorious teams in the 2011 ODI World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy. He also featured in 65 T20I matches, taking 72 wickets.
“His ability to analyze batters, break them down, and stay a step ahead—much like Shane Warne—has been key to his success as a bowler. His durability in the sport is remarkable,” Ponting added.
Ashwin is among the elite group of 11 all-rounders to achieve the double of 3000 runs and 300 wickets in Tests. He also holds a record of 11 Player-of-the-Series awards, tying him with Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan. Fans can expect to see him play for the five-time champions, Chennai Super Kings, in IPL 2025.
“He will still be active in the IPL, and I’ll be coaching against him this year. It has been a fantastic career, one I was fortunate to witness, and I’m sure we’ll continue to see many more wickets and highlights from Ravi Ashwin as his journey unfolds,” concluded Ponting.
