Did rejection hurt him so bad that he couldn't take it anymore? This question has left the Indian cricket world in a tizzy as R Ashwin - India's second highest Test wicket-taker - announced his shock retirement from international cricket on a rain-soaked Tuesday afternoon in Brisbane.
This wasn't in the script for the 537-wicket man. It wasn't too long ago that Ashwin had said he would retire the day he goes past Anil Kumble's record of 619 Test wickets. Over the years, he had accepted the fact that Ravindra Jadeja would play ahead of him in overseas Tests because of the latter's spunk with the bat. But was being downgraded to the No. 2 off-spinner in a touring party behind Washington Sundar the last straw?
