Ravichandran Ashwin’s wife Prithi Narayanan has penned a heartfelt tribute to the Indian cricketer who announced his retirement from international cricket earlier this week . Ashwin announced his decision to retire shortly after the draw of the third Test between Australia and India in Brisbane on Wednesday.
In a post on Instagram, Preeti recalled Ashwin’s cricketing journey over the years. Ashwin’s wife also revealed how she felt when the 38-year-old announced his retirement.
“It’s been a blur for me for two days. I’ve been thinking about what I can say. Should I do this as a tribute to my all-time favorite cricketer? Maybe I’ll look at it from a partner’s point of view ? Or maybe a letter of love from a fan?
“When I see Ashwin’s PC, I’m reminded of moments big and small. There are many, many memories over the past 13-14 years. Big wins, MOS awards, the silence in our room after a tough game, competitions Some nights after finishing, the shower lasts much longer than usual, the pencil scratching on the paper as he scribbles his thoughts, the continuous stream of video clips as he lays out his game plan, the calm before each game of meditative breathing, and certain songs would play on repeat as he relaxed,” she added.
Ashwin ended his international cricket career with 765 wickets and was part of many famous victories for India in different formats of the game. He was also part of the team that won the 2011 World Cup and the 2013 Champions Trophy in India.
“The times we cried with joy – after the CT final, after the MCG win, after the draw in Sydney, after the Gabba win, after the T20 comeback… the times we sat in silence, the times of heartbreak,” Priti wrote.
Ashwin’s wife also said it was an “absolute pleasure” to watch him compete and win many honors for the country.
“Dear Ashwin, it has been an absolute pleasure to go from not knowing how to assemble a kit to following you to stadiums around the world, cheering you on, watching you and learning from you. The world you introduced me to My privilege to watch and enjoy the sport I love up close has also taught me how much passion, hard work and discipline it takes to stay sane,” Priti wrote.
“I remember we talked about why you, R Ashwin, have to do all these things and more to stay relevant in the scheme of things. Awards, best statistics, POMs, honours, records how “If you’re not constantly improving your skills and putting in the work, sometimes nothing will be enough.
When you finish a wonderful international game, I just want to tell you that everything is fine. Everything will be fine. It’s time to let go of the burden of being yourself. Live life on your terms, make room for extra calories, make time for family, make time to do nothing, share memes all day long, create new bowling variations and make our kids lose their minds. Just do it all,” she added.