Amidst all the predictions for the result of the India vs Australia 3rd Test at the Gabbalegendplay, no one expected the biggest headline to be made by none other than Ravichandran Ashwin. On December 18, Wednesday, the Indian  right-arm off spin bowler and handy lower-order batter shocked the cricketing world by announcing his retirement during the post-match press conference, leaving millions of questions unanswered. (More Cricket News)

When they say that the 38-year-old Ravichandran Ashwin has had an illustrious career, what they mean is 537 wickets and 3503 runs in 106 Test matches, with 475 wickets at home, making him the second fastest to 500 Test wickets, reaching the milestone in just 98 matches. And of course, 11 Player of the Series awards, the most by any player in Test cricket. Let's take a closer look at the 11 series where Ashwin shone the brightest

1.West Indies in India, 2011-12:

Ravichandran Ashwin played 3 Test matches in the series and scored 121 runs while picking 22 wickets starring with a century and a nine-wicket match haul.

2. New Zealand in India, 2012:

Playing 2 tests Ashwin picked 18 wickets and smashed 69 runs. In this series the Indian recorded his first ten-wicket haul in Tests.

3. Australia in India, 2012-13

Ashwin took 29 wickets in the four-match series, the most by any bowler, leading India to a 4-0 series win. He starred in the opening Test in Chennai with a match haul of 12 wickets for 198 runs.

4. India in Sri Lanka, 2015

The Indian off spinner took 21 wickets and scored 94 runs in the 3-match series. He claimed his first 10-wicket haul outside India and dismissed Kumar Sangakkara four times.

5. South Africa in India, 2015-16

Taking a total of 31 wickets and scoring 101 runs against South Africa in 4 Tests Ashwin helped India win the series 3-0.

6. India in West Indies, 2016

In the 4-match Test series against West Indies in 2016, Anna scored 235 runs and took 17 wickets, including two centuries earning him the sixth Player of The Series honour.

7. New Zealand in India, 2016-17

Ashwin took 27 wickets and scored 71 runs, including a career-best 13 for 140 in the series playing crucial role in India's win 3-0 regaining the top spot in the ICC Test rankings for bowlers.

8. England in India, 2020-21

Playing 4 Tests he scored 189 runs and took 32 wickets, including a century at Chepauk becoming the fastest to reach 400 wickets.

9. New Zealand in India, 2021-22

Ashwin scored 70 runs and took 14 wickets in the two Tests in Kanpur and Mumbai.

10. Australia in India, 2022-23

In the four-match Test series the Indian took 25 wickets and scored 86 runs, sharing the Player-of-the-Series award with Jadeja.

11. Bangladesh in India, 2024

In the two-match series Ashwin scored 114 runs and took 11 wickets, including a century and 6 for 88 in Chennai.

"It is a great honour to be nominated for the FIH Player of the Year Award again," the Indian defender stated in a Hockey India release.

India Win Gold Medal In Hero Asian Champions Trophy Moqi China 2024#hact2024#asiahockey pic.twitter.com/UgHJdtbgh9

Ravichandran Ashwin had dismissed 268 left-handed batters in Test cricketlegendplay, which is a world record. On top of that, his average against left-handers in Tests is 19.84, only bettered by West Indies pace great Curtly Ambrose (18.59). Check 10 striking stats from Ashwin's career HERE.