Former Australia cricketers spark retirement rumors as Ashwin expresses frustration over lack of playing time

The experienced spinner was absent from the playing XIs for both the Perth and Brisbane Tests, and when he finally got the opportunity to play in Adelaide, the pitch offered little assistance for spin bowling. In his final Test match of a remarkable career, he managed to take one wicket, with Mitchell Marsh being his last victim in international cricket.

The former Aussie players started playing the speculation game on Ashwin's retirement. Lee suggested that the ace spinner may been told by the Indian management that he wouldn't be in contention to get a chance in the remaining two Tests, which led Ashwin to take the retirement call.

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

Ashwin was one of the strongest pillars of India's domination in red-ball cricket over the past decade. He finished his Test legacy with 537 wickets from 106 matches, which is the second highest by an Indian bowler behind Anil Kumble's 619. The New Zealand series, at home this year, was one of the lowest points in Ashwin's career when he ended with nine wickets from three games, with two played on tailor-made surfaces in Pune and Mumbai.

Haddin, former Aussie wicketkeeper, lavished praise on Ashwin, but he also feels that the spinner would open up more on his retirement decision in the coming days.

“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. To me, he was a student of the game (and) always looking at ways to get better … he’s earned the right,” Haddin told Fox Cricket after the end of the Test match.