Did Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev call Ravichandran Ashwin moments after his international cricket retirement?

Did Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev call Ravichandran Ashwin moments after his international cricket retirement? (Photo by Santosh Harhare/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

One of India’s greatest spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin recently retired from international cricket, ending his 14-year-long career. With 765 wickets across all formats, Ashwin has contributed to numerous victories for India. After his retirement announcement, he revealed that he received congratulatory calls from legends Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev, something he claimed would have given him a heart attack 25 years ago.

Ashwin’s announcement came as a shock to many, as it was made during the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT 2024-25) in Australia. The 38-year-old spinner brought the curtains down on a career that spanned over a decade, including 106 Tests, 116 ODIs, and 65 T20Is. He revealed his decision was instinctive and walked away with zero regrets.

The retirement, though, sparked controversy, with his father claiming Ravichandran Ashwin faced humiliation in the team. The cricketer, however, dismissed the comments as dad statements. Ashwin shared a screenshot of his call log on X (formerly Twitter), expressing his disbelief at receiving calls from two of India’s biggest cricket icons.

“If some one told me 25 years ago that I would have a smart phone with me and the call log on the last day of my career as an Indian cricketer would look like this, I would have had a heart attack then only. Thanks Sachin Tendulkar and Kapil Dev paaji #blessed,” Ashwin wrote.

Ashwin, I’ve always admired how you approached the game: Sachin Tendulkar

Former India legend Sachin Tendulkar had earlier praised Ravichandran Ashwin’s ability to evolve and adapt. The former took it to his social media platform to congratulate the player on having such a successful career.

Also Read: ‘Your legacy will inspire one and all’ – Sachin Tendulkar pays tribute to Ravichandran Ashwin

“Ashwin, I’ve always admired how you approached the game with your mind and heart in perfect sync. From perfecting the carrom ball to contributing crucial runs, you always found a way to win. Watching you grow from a promising talent to one of India’s finest match-winners has been wonderful. Your journey shows that true greatness lies in never being afraid to experiment and evolve,” Tendulkar wrote.

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