A heavy sense of deja vu accompanied R Ashwin’s retirement from international cricket as it reminded the cricket fraternity of the days when MS Dhoni and Anil Kumble, just like the wily off-spinner, exited the scene abruptly in the middle of a series against Australia. Dhoni retired from red-ball cricket in 2014, while Kumble stepped away from the game in 2008. While Ashwin and Dhoni played their final Test Down Under, and called it quits on their own terms, Kumble, whose retirement was prompted by a finger injury, played his last match in New Delhi.

Dhoni announced his sudden retirement from Test cricket in December 2014, right in the middle of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, with India trailing 0-2 in the four-match series.

His announcement came completely out of the blue, as he had not given any signals of stepping down from Test cricket.

Ashwin’s decision too came as a bit of a surprise, especially considering the team’s reliance on him.

India and Australia are currently locked 1-1 in the five match Border Gavaskar Trophy.

Both Dhoni and Ashwin made bold decisions to retire in Australia, a country where Indian cricket often faces its greatest challenges. They left the Indian team a player short with the series hanging in balance, something the legendary Sunil Gavaskar didn’t appreciate.

“He could have said, listen after the end of the series, I won’t be available for selection for India. What it does is that, similarly when MS Dhoni retired at the end of the third Test in 2014-15 series, it leaves you one short,” Gavaskar told the broadcasters after Ashwin’s announcement.

However, when Kumble stepped away after the third Test in Delhi, India were leading the four-match rubber 1-0 and eventually clinched the series 2-0 at home.

While Kumble and Dhoni are former India captains, Ashwin never led the national team but his retirement leaves a massive void in the spin-bowling department. The responsibility will now be on Ravindra Jadeja, who is already 36, and the other younger spinners to carry the team.

Kumble (619) and Ashwin (537) are India’s top two wicket-takers, and like Dhoni, who led the country to two World Cup victories, a Champions Trophy title, and its first-ever ascent to the top of the Test rankings, left an indelible legacy.

Ashwin, 38, announced his decision during the press meet in Gabba that happened after the third Test between India and Australia ended in a draw.

Ashwin has taken his wickets at an average of 24 in 106 Test matches. He is also seventh on the overall list of wicket-takers.

Indian spin legend R Ashwin overtook legendary Anil Kumble to have most wickets for India in the fourth innings of a Test match on Saturday. Ashwin reached this feat during the first Test against Bangladesh at Chennai. After going wicketless in the first innings, Ashwin made it count during the final innings while defending a big total of 515 runs. At the end of day three’s play, Ashwin took three wickets for 63 runs in 15 overs, with an economy rate of 4.20. Now, in 35 innings, Ashwin has taken 96 wickets in the fourth innings of a Test at an average of 19.4 and a strike rate of over 45, with the best bowling figures of 7/59. He has taken six five-wicket hauls in fourth innings of a Test match. He has overtaken Kumble, who had 94 fourth innings wickets in total.

Ashwin has tied with West Indies legend Courtney Walsh to become eighth-highest wicket-taker in Tests. In 101 Tests, Ashwin has taken 519 wickets at an average of 23.78, with best figures of 7/59 and a total of 36 five-wicket hauls. Walsh also had taken 519 wickets in 132 Tests between 1984-2001.

Coming to the match, Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first.

The top-order collapsed, and India was left at 34/3. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (56 in 118 balls, with nine fours) and Rishabh Pant (39 in 52 balls, with six fours) stitched a 62-run partnership for the fourth wicket, bringing India into the game. After India was reduced to 144/6, Ravichandran Ashwin (113 in 133 balls, with 11 fours and two sixes) and Ravindra Jadeja (86* in 117 balls, with 10 fours and two sixes) stitched a 199-run partnership, helping India reach 376 in 91.2 overs.

Hasan Mahmud (5/83) was the top bowler for Bangladesh, destroying the Indian top order, removing skipper Rohit Sharma (6), Shubman Gill (0), and Virat Kohli (6). Taskin Ahmed also took three wickets for 55 runs.

In their first innings, Bangladesh lost wickets regularly. Shakib Al Hasan (32), Litton Das (22) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (27*) put up a brief fight for Bangladesh, but Bumrah (4/50) and Akash Deep (2/19) broke the back of Bangladesh batting. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each. Bangladesh was bundled out for 149 runs in their first inning and trailed by 227 runs.

In their second innings, India once again lost their top-order quickly and was struggling at 67/3. But centuries from Gill (119*) and Rishabh Pant (109 in 128 balls, with 13 fours and four sixes) helped them reach 287/4 before the innings was declared. Bangladesh was set a massive 515 to win.

Bangladesh started off the run-chase well, with openers Zakir Hasan (33) and Shadman Islam (35) putting up a 62-run opening stand. Skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (51* in 60 balls, with four boundaries and three sixes) held the innings together as Ravichandran Ashwin (3/63) and Jasprit Bumrah (1/18) were among the wickets. At the end of day three, Bangladesh was 158/4, with skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (51*) and Shakib Al Hasan (5*) unbeaten.