Sachin Tendulkar on Ashwin’s retirement: ‘True greatness lies in never being afraid to experiment and evolve’ | Cricket News
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar paid his tribute to R Ashwin who announced his international retirement after the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Brisbane, retracing the Tamil Nadu cricketer’s journey from a promising talent to India’s off-spin maestro.
Ashwin, who made his international debut in 2010 and played his first Test the following year, was part of the 2011 World Cup-winning team alongside Tendulkar and in a glowing red-ball career across 13 years, became India’s premier match-winner with the ball in home Tests. Only months after Ashwin became the oldest Indian to bag a five-wicket haul, a record-extending 37th, he bid adieu to the international scene as India’s second-highest wicket-taker across formats (765) and the second-highest in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 appearances.
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… pic.twitter.com/XawHfacaUh— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 18, 2024
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Hailing Ashwin’s evolution as a master craftsman with the ball, Tendulkar took to social media to celebrate the Tamil Nadu stalwart’s career. “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,” Tendulkar wrote on X.
“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. Your legacy will inspire one and all. Wishing you all the very best for your 2nd innings,” Tendulkar added.
Ashwin and Tendulkar featured in 29 matches together for India in ODIs and Tests, including the master batter’s final international appearance in a Test match against West Indies at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in November 2013. Ashwin picked up seven wickets in the match as India won by an innings and 126 runs. Ashwin was also part of the India XI during Tendulkar’s final ODI appearance against Pakistan in 2012.
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