Matthew Hayden honours R Ashwin’s legacy with heartfelt praise post-retirement

Matthew Hayden commended Ravichandran Ashwin's cricketing acumen following the 38-year-old's retirement from international cricket. Hayden described Ashwin as a 'smart cricketer.'
Ashwin's retirement announcement surprised many. He declared his decision alongside Indian captain Rohit Sharma.
Fans had anticipated a significant announcement. This followed a poignant moment observed between Ashwin and Virat Kohli on the final day of the Brisbane Test match.
Kohli embraced an emotional Ashwin. This suggested important news was forthcoming.
Tributes have poured in since Ashwin's announcement, acknowledging his distinguished career.
In an exclusive interview with Star Sports, Hayden praised Ashwin's strategic thinking and sharp mind. He highlighted Ashwin's dedication and ability to formulate clever plans.
“Yeah, I think Sunny described him really well--a very smart cricketer. And you know, he's a cricketer who just stays on task, always working out a cunning plan. He's got great belief in his own ability. He's quite polarising in many ways when it comes to the cricketing public, and even to his own team--he's a very strong-minded person. But I personally want to wish Ashwin a wonderful retirement,” Hayden said in a statement released by Star Sports.
Ashwin began his Test career in 2011 against the West Indies. He quickly established himself in red-ball cricket, which became his specialization.
Ashwin participated in 106 Test matches, capturing an impressive 537 wickets. This includes 37 five-wicket hauls. He also scored 3,503 runs.
Against Australia, Ashwin's record stands at 115 wickets in 23 matches, with an economy rate of 2.71.
The 38-year-old also established a record for the most wickets taken in a single Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. He achieved this feat with 29 dismissals in the 2020-21 series.
Ashwin holds several impressive records. He is the fastest Indian bowler to reach 350 Test wickets.
He is also India's second-highest Test wicket-taker, with 537 wickets at an economy rate of 2.83. His accomplishments are likely to remain benchmarks for years to come.