Now that the unparalleled pressure of being an Indian cricketer is off his back, R Ashwin visualises himself doing a lot more on the cricket field at least for the next few years.
The 38-year-old stunned the cricketing world by announcing his retirement following the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He flew back home the following day and got an overwhelming reception from the people in his hometown Chennai.
In a chat with former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports, Ashwin revealed one of the reasons he retired in the middle of the series is that he did not get the same creative satisfaction out of his game.
“One line I have always said when people ask me ‘what is next?’ I have said the day I wake up and feel that creative side doesn’t have a future or direction is when I would probably give it up.
“I certainly think that creative side did not have a lot of upside to explore. There are laboratories available in world cricket today. So I thought okay if this is not the lab, I can find another one,” said the second highest wicket taker for India in Test cricket.
Ashwin said he will continue to play club cricket including the IPL.
Being seventh on the all time leading wicket takers list, does Ashwin feel satisfied?
“I won’t be seventh on the list for a long time. Nathan Lyon is breathing down my neck. Glad to be number 8, glad to be whatever number I happen to become eventually.
“One tag that have always come behind me, that people have tended to say that I am a numbers man, I know my numbers, probably gave the impression that I went after number, that was never the case.
“It was all about getting excited to be something else the very next day that I played the game. The game gave me so much to a point where it allowed me to be creative and explore the best inside me. So grateful to the game for giving me all those avenues.
“The cricketer in me is yet to be done. I do visualise myself doing a lot mor