Star veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has retired from all formats of international cricket for India, effective immediately.

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Speaking briefly to reporters at the Gabba immediately after the third Test post-match presentation, the 38-year-old announced that today would be his last day as a cricketer at the top level.

“I really didn’t want to make this about myself,” Ashwin begun the impromptu press conference by saying.

“This will be my last day as an Indian cricketer in all formats at the international level. I do feel like there’s a bit of punch left in me as a cricketer, but I would like to showcase that at club level cricket.”

“I’ve had a lot of fun, I must say I’ve played with a lot of memories alongside Rohit (Sharma) and several of my other teammates; even though I’ve lot some of them over the last few years. We are the last bunch of ‘OG’s’ (originals) if you can say that … I’ll be marking this as my (last) date playing at the level.

In a one-way presser that lasted only a couple of minutes, Ashwin had plenty of people he wished to thank, including his many coaches, as well as teammates like Rohit, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara — particularly for their help with taking catches around the bat in his time bowling for India.

“A big thank you to the Australian cricket team, who have been very fierce competitors; I’ve enjoyed my time playing against them,” Ashwin added.

“Thanks for being the journalists that you’ve been, writing good things and writing nasty things on occasions,” he joked.

“Thank you all, and see you all soon … I might go on to be involved in the game, because it is a game that has given me everything.”

Once Ashwin left the media room, India’s skipper Rohit was probed on his thoughts of the shock retirement.

“Some decisions are very personal, and I don’t think too many questions should be asked or raised (of Ashwin),” he said.

“He was very sure about what he wanted to do, and the team has complete backing of his thought process.”

RAVICHANDRAN ASHWIN TEST CAREER STATS:

MATCHES: 106

WICKETS: 537 AVERAGE: 24.01

FIVE-WICKET HAULS: 37

BEST FIGURES: 7/59

After not being selected for the opening match of the series in Perth, the right-arm off-spinner was called upon to play in Adelaide for the pink-ball Test; a match where he took 1/53 from 18 overs.

India’s selection policy with spinners so far this tour has been a confusing one, with Washington Sudnar (first Test), Ashwin (second Test) and Ravindra Jadeja (third Test) playing musical chairs in the role of dominant spinner.

“More will come out when Ashwin has his opportunity to speak; just reading between the lines, it looked like he may have been a bit frustrated with the spinning options that they’ve changed in the first three Test matches,” Australian wicketkeeping great Brad Haddin told Fox Cricket after his press conference.

“To me, he was a student of the game (and) always looking at ways to get better … he’s earned the right.”

Fellow Australian great Brett Lee added that he was “shocked” at the retirement, and that he will go down as one of the game’s greats.

“I think the last time a spinner retired through a series (in Australia) was Graeme Swann,” said Lee.

“He may have been told that he’s not going to play any further part in this series, and rightly so, (he) just decided to go out on his own terms.”

“I’m going to miss his bowling, that flight, carom balls, his abilities to bowl in all conditions … (in India) a batter has got no chance when you’re facing that quality,” former England captain Michael Vaughan ended by saying.