IND vs BAN: R Ashwin Opens Up On His Retirement Plans Ahead Of Bangladesh Series, Says 'Have Put In Lot Of Effort In Last 3-4 Years'

India vs Bangladesh: Star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, a key figure in India's Test team, has addressed speculation about his future, stating that retirement is not on his mind yet. The 37-year-old spinner stressed that his decision to retire will be dictated by his inspiration to continue enhancing and contributing to the team, rather than his age or external factors.

Ahead of the Bangladesh series, Ashwin explained that he hasn't set a final retirement date. His priority remains on his personal motivation and the quality of his performances, which will ultimately dictate when he decides to retire from international cricket.

"There is nothing like that in my mind. I am only thinking about one day at a time because when you get older, you have to put in extra effort every single day. It's not the same. I have put in a lot of effort in the last 3-4 years. I haven't decided (retirement), but the day I feel that today I don't want to improve, I will leave. That's all," Ashwin said during a conversation with Vimal Kumar on his YouTube channel.

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At 40, Ashwin's devotion and work ethic demonstrate no signs of weakening. He stays atop the ICC Test bowler rankings and will be crucial to India's conquest in their upcoming home series. With 516 Test wickets, Ashwin is India's second-highest wicket-taker, only surpassed by Anil Kumble's 619, solidifying his legacy as a cricket legend.

Ashwin, on the verge of possibly surpassing Kumble's record, remains focused on savouring his experience in the game rather than fixating on individual achievements.

"I haven't set any targets for myself. Anil Bhai wants me to break his record, but I'm just happy living day by day. I don't want to lose my love for the game by setting targets," he explained.

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He also reflected on the difficult phase between 2018 and 2020, drawn by injuries and a slump in form, and acknowledged the transformative effect it had on his life.

"I know how my life changed after that tough phase. I'm just holding on to my joy of cricket, and the moment I feel I'm losing it, I'll step away. We all play, and we all have to leave. Somebody else will come and do well. It's Indian cricket," he concluded.