Ravichandran Ashwin has announced his retirement from all formats of international cricket and will not play for India in the final two Test matches of the series scheduled to take place at MCG and SCG. Ashwin was not part of India's playing XI in the Gabba Test which ended in a draw.

"This will be my last day as an Indian cricket in all formats of the game at the international level. I do feel there is a bit of punch left in me in a cricketer. I would like to showcase that in club-level cricket. So this will be my last day. I have had a lot of fun. I must say I've created a lot of memories alongside Rohitt and several of my teammates.

"Obviously, there are a lot of people to thank. But, I would be failing in my duty if I didn't thank the BCCI and the rest of my teammates. I want to name a few of them and all the coaches -- Rohit, Virat, Ajinkya and Pujara who have taken all those catches in the slips to help me get those wickets," said Ashwin in the press conference.

"Also a big thank you to the Australian cricket team. They have been very fierce competitors. I have enjoyed playing alongside them.I won't be taking any questions, but certainly, it's a very emotional moment," Ashwin added.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma confirmed that Ashwin will not stay with the squad for the rest of the series and travel back to India tomorrow (December 19).

Ashwin played 106 Test matches for India and took 537 wickets for the country. He is India's second-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket history behind Anil Kumble. Ashwin and Kumble are the only Indian cricketers in history to take more than 500 wickets in Test cricket.

Ashwin also scored 3503 runs with the bat and hit five centuries for India. Ashwin is only one of three cricketers in history alongside Stuart Broad and Shane Warne to achieve the rare double of scoring 3000 runs and taking 500 wickets in the longest format of the game.

Ashwin also played 116 ODIs and 65 T20Is for India and took 156 and 72 wickets respectively. He made his debut in both white-ball formats in 2010 while he received his Test cap in 2011 against West Indies in Delhi. Ashwin has played every home Test match for India since then.

Ashwin was part of the Indian team which won the 2011 Cricket World Cup in which he played a vital role in the quarter-final victory over three-time defending champions Australia at Ahmedabad. The off-spinner played a key part in helping India win the 2013 Champions Trophy with eight wickets in five matches. He bowled the nail-biting final over for the MS Dhoni-led team.

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