'Virat Kohli criticizes Ashwin's mid-series retirement; Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir face backlash for supporting the decision'

Ashwin's departure has left India one spinner short in Australia, unless they choose to bring in another player for the remaining two Tests. Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali did not hold back in his criticism of the retirement decision. Ali stated that Virat Kohli, the former Indian captain, would not have allowed Ashwin to retire "mid-series."

“I saw his press conference and it looked like he didn't speak about many things. I can guarantee that Virat Kohli wouldn't have let Aswhin retire mid-series if he were the captain,” Ali said on his official YouTube channel, as quoted by Sportskeeda.

Ali further stated that the spin great should have called time on his career after the New Zealand series at home. He insisted that letting Ashwin retire mid-series was a poor decision from captain Rohit Sharma, and coach Gautam Gambhir.

"Ravichandran Ashwin should have retired after the New Zealand series itself as Washington Sundar was called up for the second Test, or it should have been after this five-match series. I think letting Ashwin retire after three Tests was a bad decision from Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir. They should have sat with him and made him understand that India needed him for these two Tests," said Ali.

‘Series winner’

The former Pakistan player made a rather unusual statement, too, claiming that Ashwin is not a “match-winner” but a “series-winner.”

"Yes, Ashwin didn't perform well in the Adelaide Test. But is he a one-match performer? Ashwin is not a match-winner. He is not a match-winner, he is a series-winner. Being a match-winner is different and being someone who can win tournaments and series is different," he said.

Ashwin retired as India's second-highest wicket-taker in the longest format, with 537 wickets to his name in 106 matches. He has 156 wickets to his name in ODIs, and 72 in the shortest format.

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