A new chapter is set to begin for one of Indian cricket’s most cerebral and decorated players, Ravichandran Ashwin. Just months after making the difficult decision to step away from international cricket and the Indian Premier League (IPL)Ashwin is set to make his return to the field.

Ravichandran Ashwin back in action for ‘Team India’ in this upcoming cricket tournament

He has been selected to represent ‘Team India’ in the fast-paced Hong Kong Sixes tournament, a move that marks the first major event of his new professional journey. His decision has sent a wave of excitement through the cricketing world, as fans eagerly await to see the master spinner in action once again.

Ashwin’s recent retirement decisions came as a surprise to many. The veteran off-spinner called time on his illustrious international career in December of last year, a move he made with India’s second-highest wicket tally in Tests. Following that, he also announced his exit from the IPL, the league where his journey had come full circle with a return to his original franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

Ashwin, during stepping away from the game announcement, had made it clear on social media that his retirements were not a full farewell to the sport but rather the beginning of a new chapter where he would ‘explore leagues across the world,’ The Hong Kong Sixeswith its high-octane, action-packed global format, is the perfect stage for him to embark on this new venture and showcase his skills in a challenging environment.

Ashwin’s legacy of dominance with the ball in international cricket

Ashwin’s long and decorated career has left an indelible mark on cricket, and his statistics are a testament to his sheer talent and tactical brilliance. In his 106-match Test career, he secured 537 wickets, placing him as the second-highest wicket-taker for India in the format. His white-ball records are equally impressive: he took 156 wickets in 116 ODIs and 72 wickets in 65 T20Is. His IPL career, which spanned 221 matches, saw him take 187 wickets and score 833 runs, including a maiden half-century. These numbers underscore not only his exceptional bowling prowess but also his valuable contributions as a versatile all-rounder, a quality he hopes to bring to this new format.