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September 15, 2024
R Ashwin has shared his thoughts on retirement ahead of the Bangladesh Test series, emphasizing his focus on enjoying the game. Meanwhile, former Pakistani batter Younis Khan has encouraged a young Pakistani star to take inspiration from an Indian legend, highlighting the importance of learning from successful players.
India’s seasoned all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin is now focused solely on Test cricket, stepping back from playing all formats. At 37, he trails only the legendary Anil Kumble in all-time Test wickets for India. While he aims to claim the top spot, Ashwin plays primarily for his passion for the sport. When discussing retirement, the Tamil Nadu native stated he would call it quits the moment he no longer feels that love for the game.
“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,” He shared this during a chat with Vimal Kumar on YouTube when asked about playing until 40.
“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 added.
Ashwin discussed a challenging period in his career from 2018 to 2020, marked by injuries and poor form that made him reflect on his future in cricket. However, he now feels a renewed sense of joy about the game.
“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.
Pakistan’s white-ball captain, Babar Azam, is struggling with his batting. Often compared to Virat Kohli, he hasn’t been at his best in 2024. In the recent Tests against Bangladesh, Babar didn’t score even one fifty.
His fans and supporters are eager for him to find his form again. In the meantime, former Pakistan batter Younis Khan has advised Azam to take inspiration from Virat Kohli. Younis emphasized that Babar should concentrate on his batting and ignore outside distractions. He also mentioned how Virat stepped down as India’s captain as an example.
“The only suggestion I have for Babar is that he should focus on his cricket. He should improve his performance. Babar Azam was made captain because he was the best player at the time. I was present when the decision was made that the team’s best player should be the captain,” Younis said during an event in Pakistan.
“He has achieved a lot at such a young age, but he needs to be clear about what he wants to achieve in the future. Captaincy is secondary; performance is what truly matters. Look at Virat Kohli. He chose to step down from captaincy on his own terms, and now he’s breaking records worldwide. This shows that playing for the country should be the priority. If there’s any energy left, then play for yourself,” he added.
Younis is concerned about the current generation’s excessive time spent on social media. He encouraged Babar to step away from these platforms and respond to his critics through his performance on the field.
“There are high expectations from Babar, and while players use social media, their real answers should come through the bat and ball,” Younis Khan said.
Babar Azam gained some confidence with the bat during the Champions One-Day Cup when his team, the Stallions, played against the Lions, scoring 76 runs. However, he still hasn’t fully regained his best form, as a video circulated online showing him getting out to a spinner during practice.
Babar is facing a challenging period, with calls for him to be removed as Pakistan’s white-ball captain. In the meantime, he hopes to regain his form ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025, which starts in February.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for 24kbet, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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